CSTs make a final comeback
Posted on May 16, 2014 by Azniv Derdzakyan in News
Erika Salazar
Opinion Editor
Juniors will be taking the English and Math standardized tests on May 20 through May 22. These upcoming CSTs will only be administered to juniors, although the sophomores did already take the Life Science CST back in April.
The primary reason juniors will be taking a multiple choice English CST is to complete the Early Assessment Program. Back in February juniors were required to write an essay in their English class which was only half of the assessment; the multiple choice is the second half. The Early Assessment Program is utilized to measure a student’s preparedness for college level English as well as math.
The math CST will only be taken by “students that have gone beyond algebra 2,” said Graciela Quintanilla, EL Coordinator.
As for the timing of the test, Quintanilla said that “there was no way we could have done it earlier; the district set the testing windows for us, so we had to wait until now.”
Between the Smarter Balanced Testing and AP Exams it was impossible to administer the test until all these assessments were completed.
Unlike the Smarter Balanced Testing, which was just a field test, the CSTs will have a great impact upon the pupil because it will reflect the scholar’s readiness for college.
This will be the last year the California Standardized Tests will be issued to students and what will take it’s place is the new computerized Smarter Balanced Testing which is built around the new Common Core Standards that are being implemented.
