Longer Test for 3rd-8th Grades?

Obi Udezeh
Life Skills
12/1/11
Longer Test for 3rd-8th Grades?

Today's article was about how David Abrams, who is New York's chief of
testing, made a proposal to principles across the state telling them
that annual reading and math test will be double in length. Pushing
testing times close to the length of SAT tests. And may I remind you
that these tests are for 3rd-8th graders.
I believe that this idea is outrageous but also it is something that
can prep these kids. When the 8th graders take a 4 hour
test, they are going to know how a lengthy test feels. So when they
get to high school, a PSAT isn't going to be their first lengthy
test. Resulting in a longer focusing ability, and eventually
resulting in better PSAT and SAT grades. So at the end of the day we
are going to see higher SAT grades and more college acceptance
letters. Making the NYC public high schools look way better. I also
think that this was a strong move because a lot of high schools are
closing down in NY only because their graduation rates and test
grades are low. Abrams' idea could easily change the low test grade
aspect then over time that will result in a higher graduation rate
and then stop the closing of many high schools in NY.
Personally if I was one of those kids who are going to have to take a 4 hour
reading and math test, I would be heated, simply because preparing
for a 2 hour test in their school is mentally challenging. When I had
to take these test, about 3 weeks earlier we would start preparing
for the test. Constantly taking old test, then going over the correct
answers immediately after. It was definitely a hassle. But it
definitely prepared me for what I had in store for the future.

Gonen, Yoav. "NY's Top School Testing Guru Forced out - NYPOST.com." New York Post. New York Post, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. .