Who besides me are sick and freakin' tired of these TAKS tests? Is there anything we can do about them?
546719
Many people don't understand that a student may be cognizant of and understand the concepts s/he's expected to know, but be unable to test well due to a variety of factors.  Standardized tests don't typically measure a student's ability to apply knowledge, only the ability to memorize facts.  Students with better memorization skills do better on standardized tests.  Our current political and social culture, however, understandably seeks a certain level of accountability for both schools and students.  Unfortunately, standardized testing isn't necessarily a good measure of how bright or knowledgeable a student is, or how good of a job a school or teacher is doing; instead, it encourages teachers to teach to the test rather than teach students to apply critical thinking skills.  No one, however, has yet to come up with an alternative standard of measurement that can be applied equitably, and I doubt anyone ever will.  Instead, we need to recognize that every child has his/her own learning style and pace, to educate teachers to recognize students who are struggling or falling behind, and to give them the time and the resources to teach all of the children in their care to the best of their abilities.
605679
From past experience, it's the little things that trip people up on these tests.  Not the big complex situational questions.  About 80% of the questions have real simple solutions.  The night before the test, relax.  Maybe look over your notes, but get plenty of sleep.
934622
Stuff em all I say.Politicians,Tax inspectors,Vat inspectors etc.\nLet's ban them to the Sin-bin permanently.That would get rid of everyones confusion!\nOh if only we could.Life would be so much simpler!
280406
Talk about one of my pet peeves!  Not to mention it's really frightening to see people who know better (healthcare and food industry workers especially) not doing it!  I agree though, it's pure laziness.  There is always time to wash your hands.
100149
I believe you're talking about pseudo-intellectualism. It's very annoying, I agree. Just ignore those people, these have inadequacy issues...
685806
I totally agree...\n\npeople need to just get a life and stop all this nonsense about numbers.
635366
Good Lord yes! I am so sick to death of it. The worst were people who kept asking what it was or what it was about.
1041656
Too many same questions?? reported!
945632
yes\nseveral\nI hate the test of gas.
583930
Here in California they are deffinatlly bottom rung. They are putting out test after test and makeing our education the only thing that is immportant in our lives. Our entire future is now based upon what is set on a computer and wether it is good or bad determines wether or not we will have an actual life and be important or life in a trailer and never be successful in anything. Not only that but the tests have gone out of hand. No other state tests their children as much as California does and it is really uncalled for. They have transformed school were it used to be fun but now it is just torture and such. They make it so we are afraid to go and have no life, I can't even come home to spend time with my parents. I come home, run to my bedroom, do my homework for hours then go to bed. No time for anything else becuase we have to study and study and study and do never ending homework which the teachers pile upon you. The school's dont even care about thier studants. If a studant is failing they don't care and only send that kid to detention and such but never try and actually help the kid. The school system is so messed up here and it is geting worse due to the new tests that are being added to determine if we will even be allowed to go to collage after graduation and also how they cut the wages to spend on the schools so that a lot of teachers have to get fired. Another major problem here is the schools being completly over crouded. I have about 40 kids in each of my classes that are only men't to hold aproximatly 20 studants. This place has problems and they refuse to fix them. Mabey if they just listened to the studants and helped fix the problems then the grades for every studant and the study habits will all improve. But until then, more and more studants are going to fail and only the rich and the super smart are going to be able to get to collage which is happening in California already.
273575
To study for TAKS your teachers usually give you drills, practice TAKS.That and you hope to god you listen enough in class to pass it. And yes, I have taken the test and how i did i will not find out until the end of the school year.
1072980
I know how you feel.. It is annoying. But if we were to censor these questions, we wouldn't be living in an accepting society... Just grit your teeth, and look for something deeper to help with \n\nx x x
30581
Everything in that 1st answer is right, you should also look into the hospital and rather or not they messed up your tests. I've found that so many hospitals are over filled and very busy, they are also pressuring doctors to hurry up and get patients out of the er, if that was the case, you need to do something about it, hospitals all over need to hire more people and address these issues. Even if you don't want to sue you should file a complaint and make them at least pay your bill!
807000
it is really getting annoying. the other day the same kid had 10 math questions. talk about everybody  doing his homework. maybe if we start giving them the wrong answers or don't respond they will get the idea and stop.
258706
Are ya sick of it already?! I can relate. BTW, I don't think you can just remove it. I've tried, but here I am!
141340
its a way of tryin to make themselves look better. if they blame the test for them gettin the questions wrong then its not their fault for now konwin the answer.
895343
The TAKS Test evaluates students' performances statewide, which in turn when scores are averaged up, assesses the districts' and individual schools' performances among different grades and ethnic groups. Which is solely dependent upon school funding. IPoorer school districts don't always perform well due to lack of proper funding for certified teachers and learning materials necessary for acedemic success. All in all, a lack of resources.  The state has created cirriculumns for each grade level on what is expected of the student to learn for the TAKS.\n\nAnyway, I do understand your son's reasoning. I was personally affected by the TAKS Test, and being two years into college, the affects of this test remain. The TAKS does not prepare students from the future, much less college. Most of  the material covered won't be used again. And your son is not the first case of being an exceptional student but not testing well. This is partly due to the immense pressure placed upon him and his fellow peers to perform well on the test. Please encourage him not to give up. Remind him that the average adult working part time with a diploma earns about $20,000.00 a year at most, and without a diploma, on average about $15,000.00. And introduce him to what new financial responsibilities he'll acquire once he's on his own (i.e. health insurance, car insurance, rent, ultilities, food, miscelaneous, etc.). I've done budget assignments in my college courses on both these budgets, and they're very effective.\n\nSome things that could help your son in regards to testing, would be to take a break when frustrated, and clear his mind. If the answer isn't clear, then move on to the next question and come back to it later. Do the easier questions first, and tackle the harder ones after. This will keep his mind flowing and ready to deal with the harder set of questions. In doing so, he might come to realize that most the questions that seemed ridiculous are really easy questions worded differently to provoke a certain thought process.\n\nAlso, there are materials available to help prepare for the TAKS Test. But the most important piece of advice I can give you, is to let him know that no matter what you love him and are proud of him. Also, that this his last year of dealing with the TAKS - and to make the most if it. If he doesn't pass this spring don't worry, he has ample chances to retake and pass it.