educational testing news stories on Newser

Banned From NYC Tests: Dinosaurs, Aliens, Birthdays

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:49:13 CDT

New York City test-makers are going to have a hard time coming up with acceptable questions to place on students' tests, after officials decided to ban 50 subjects including dinosaurs and birthdays. Why? Because those topics have been deemed potentially controversial, and could make kids upset: Dinosaurs, for example, could...

School's Plan to Boost Test Scores: Feed Kids Placebos

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:37:06 CST

A Florida elementary school wants its students to perform better on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test … so it's feeding them "placebos." Hagen Road Elementary students will be given an "FCAT PowerBar"—aka an apple-flavored cereal bar with a label reading, "Warning: Improves Writing Power!"—before testing this week, and...

7 Busted for SAT Scam

Rob Quinn — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:20:00 CDT

Seven teens have been arrested in an SAT-cheating ring at a prestigious Long Island high school. Sam Eshaghoff, 19, took the exam for at least six other students, charging up to $2,500 for each one, prosecutors told the Los Angeles Times . The six Great Neck North students have been...

In Standardized Tests, Shanghai Kids Kick World's Butt

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:01:04 CST

China is emerging as a world powerhouse, and that extends into the classroom. Shanghai teenagers outscored their peers around the world on the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey, and Hong Kong also ranked high in all three areas: second in math and science, fourth in reading. This...

4-Day School Week Gains Traction

Nick McMaster — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:25:00 CDT

For one cash-strapped Georgia school district, instituting a 4-day school week was a last resort—cut a day, or fire 39 teachers. But besides saving money on operating costs, school officials say, the 4-day week has boosted test scores and increased attendance for both students and teachers, leading to more...

Personality Test to Supplement Grad Exams

Jason Farago — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:35:39 CDT

For students applying to graduate school, good GREs and warm recommendation letters will soon not be enough. The Educational Testing Service has developed an index for professors and supervisors to use to rank students on a 1-to-5 scale for attributes like teamwork, creativity and integrity. The goal of the questionnaire...

Is 10th Grade Time for College?

Neal Colgrass — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:12:00 CST

Sweet sixteen is the right time to leave high school and leap into higher education, New Hampshire education officials say. Following advice from a blue-ribbon panel that warned of America's educational decline 2 years ago, the state plans to test 10th graders with tough new exams. Those who pass can...

Grueling Gaokao Tests China's College Seekers

Kate Rockwood — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:06:21 CDT

At least 10 million high school students in China are taking the grueling gaokao , or "high test," to win a coveted spot at college. It’s a two-day ordeal that covers everything students have learned for a dozen years. It also shuts down neighborhoods, redirects traffic, and determines which kids grab...

Big Proctor Is Watching You

Colleen Barry — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 CDT

A new device designed to monitor tests remotely helps distance-learning providers keep an eye on students who are taking exams thousands of miles away. The virtual proctor locks down the terminal so users can't search files or the Internet for answers, a 360-degree camera captures the student's actions, and a...