Could you graduate 10th grade?

Steph0871

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/when-an-adult-took-standardized-tests-forced-on-kids/2011/12/05/gIQApTDuUO_blog.html?tid=sm_btn_twitter

CN: A school board member took (and failed) the 10th grade standardized test.

The article is interesting, but there are two links to sample math and reading questions.  Can you answer them all??

Nebb

Without looking at it im going to go out on a limb and just assume that I couldnt.

Simply Fated

I'm not surprised. I always said that those crazies in Albany (capital of my state) needed to practice what they preach. I hope more educational professionals take this as a lesson to work harder on themselves before assuming they know best.

MRSBJS

I got all but one right on the reading, but it didn't show me a score, unless I just didn't see it.

The math I didn't even do, I am HORRIBLE at math.

Steph0871

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:3ef9514a-6f22-4d65-8334-74f3d4bac52b">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe I'm stupid but I can't find the links to the tests.
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

It's in the first paragraph.

<strong> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/could-you-pass-a-tenth-grade-reading-test/2011/12/09/gIQALYfSiO_page.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Reading Quiz</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/could-you-pass-a-tenth-grade-math-test/2011/12/12/gIQAhglKqO_page.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Math Quiz</a>.</strong>

Steph0871

I missed 1 on the math, and got all of the reading ones correct.

BUT I've always been a little of a freak when it comes to standardized tests.  I think I'm better at analyzing the questions than actually knowing the material.

katiewhompus

I'm constantly feeling dumb at work when I listen to the kids projects/homework assignments. Then they tell me they don't know how on earth I can juggle bills/groceries/kid/pets/whatever. I feel like we trade book smarts/ffacts for life knowledge somewhere after high school.

brandichamberlain

Oh, I failed miserably.

Nebb

I got 7 out of 7 on the reading, and 4 out or 7 on the math, nto as bad as I expected.

krizzo17

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:a107a08c-428d-4312-b173-20884509a112">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]I missed 1 on the math, and got all of the reading ones correct. BUT I've always been a little of a freak when it comes to standardized tests.  <strong>I think I'm better at analyzing the questions than actually knowing the material.
</strong>Posted by Steph0871[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure this same thing screwed me over with colleges. I had ridiculously high SAT scores but only an average gpa even though I worked really hard...but I think to admissions offices, it just looked like I was lazy in class. Standarized tests suck for everyone, not just the smart kids who suck at multiple choice.

reddy123

Edie- try the individual quiz links and then waiting a minute or two for it to load, that's what I had to do.

I passed! My grammar sucks, but I could pass a tenth grade test, dammit. Math took me way too long, but I still passed. If I can do it, I know you guys could do it.

Steph0871

ha, Krizzo. I'm the opposite.  My ACT score (34) is probably the reason I got into college.  My GPA was a little ridiculous (3.8.... on a weighted 5.0). But I *was* lazy in class.

Nattie24

5/7 on reading

4/7 on math.. and I stink at tests..

K Byte

I got all the reading questions right. I didn't think they were that hard actually. But I only got like 4 of the math right lol. I was annoyed at one of them though.

In music a certain “A note” has a frequency of 440 hertz (vibrations per second). This is called the first harmonic. The second harmonic of that “A note” is 880 hertz, and the third harmonic is 1,320 hertz. According to this pattern, what is the frequency of the fifth harmonic?

I figured it was just adding 440 each time, since 440+440 is 880, and 880+440 is 1320. But no, you were supposed to add 1320+880. Now how are you supposed to get that pattern from just those examples, unless I am really dense and missing it somehow?

reddy123

K Byte- you are right, just missing a step, as they asked the fifth harmonic, not the fourth. They ended their pattern at the third, so you have to "skip" fourth and add one more for the fifth. (I think)

(ETA: high five to Koda for our mad math skillz)

Nebb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:bb9b4efe-0ca6-427a-8d1e-3eb117c5395d">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]I got all the reading questions right. I didn't think they were that hard actually. But I only got like 4 of the math right lol. I was annoyed at one of them though. In music a certain “A note” has a frequency of 440 hertz (vibrations per second). This is called the first harmonic. The second harmonic of that “A note” is 880 hertz, and the third harmonic is 1,320 hertz. According to this pattern, what is the frequency of the fifth harmonic? I figured it was just adding 440 each time, since 440+440 is 880, and 880+440 is 1320. But no, you were supposed to add 1320+880. Now how are you supposed to get that pattern from just those examples, unless I am really dense and missing it somehow?
Posted by K Byte[/QUOTE]
I got that one wrong too

K Byte

Oh duh! I guess it tests how closely you read and pay attention too lol.

Steph0871

ha, KByte, that's the one I got wrong too. Reading comprehension fail.

K Byte

In all honesty, I didn't think either test was that hard and I'm sure I would have done better on the math if I were still in 10th grade and knew what the fuuck a Pythagorean theorem was or whatever. Like I've heard that term before but I haven't taken a math class since 11th grade, other than Statistics which is really different from the normal algebra - geometry - trig - calc sequence that the kids who were good at math took in high school.

entropicbeauty

100% on reading comprehension, 5 right on the math portion (one I just didn't understand and the other I read the question wrong but had the pattern correct if only I'd read FIFTH in the sequence instead of assuming they meant the next one in the sequence...)

I do agree that standardized tests are BS though, they have no real bearing on how intelligent a person is or isn't and I don't think it should effect someones ability to attend a university.

maratea

Well I got 7/7 on the reading one, I'm not even going to bother with the math one. Tell me when in the real world I need to know how many laps Susie has to run before she makes as much money as Joeschmoe. They need practical application questions, like if your mortgage and bills take up 70% of your paycheck and you have an unexpected $200 expense this month, how much do you have left for beer?

midgetthemighty

100% on the Reading and 86% on the Math, which is ironic because I'm a math junkie. I only missed the last question because I thought it asked for the fourth one, not the fifth. Reading fail.

reddy123

I agree Kbyte, It had been a while since I took a math quiz that started with "Johnny and Louise had..." and I groaned when I saw it. I hated the story problems and showing my work, etc. I hated everything in math.

emarston1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:bb9b4efe-0ca6-427a-8d1e-3eb117c5395d">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]I got all the reading questions right. I didn't think they were that hard actually. But I only got like 4 of the math right lol. I was annoyed at one of them though. In music a certain “A note” has a frequency of 440 hertz (vibrations per second). This is called the first harmonic. The second harmonic of that “A note” is 880 hertz, and the third harmonic is 1,320 hertz. According to this pattern, what is the frequency of the fifth harmonic? I figured it was just adding 440 each time, since 440+440 is 880, and 880+440 is 1320. But no, you were supposed to add 1320+880. Now how are you supposed to get that pattern from just those examples, unless I am really dense and missing it somehow?
Posted by K Byte[/QUOTE]
It is just adding 440 each time.  It asked for the 5th, not the 4th so you have to add two 440s to the last example to get the answer.

emarston1

That was pretty interesting.  I'm a little concerned that the school board member only got 10 out of the 60 math questions correct.  Statisically you should be able to guess more correct answers.

Grits8812

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:3ef9514a-6f22-4d65-8334-74f3d4bac52b">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe I'm stupid but I can't find the links to the tests.
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but this made me laugh (literally, out loud) long enough for FI to look at me and ask what I ate to make me weird today.<div>
</div><div>Anyway, I know I couldn't pass that stupid test.  I hated math class and dreaded every waking (or sleeping) hour of it. </div>

SunriseAmber

I'd fail the math portion without a doubt.

midgetthemighty

Edie, when I first clicked on those links they loaded blank sections where the test was. I thought it was a glitch but it turns out it just takes a while to load.

Steph0871

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:55bbe398-025a-4775-9ca7-e79c223e0f96">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]I got all the reading questions right. I got 6 out of 7 right on the math.  I would have gotten all of them, <strong>but I don't have my big calculator anymore.  And I was never good at square roots without a calculator.</strong>
Posted by crfb87[/QUOTE]

It wasn't testing an actual square root, just the process of factoring it out.

sqrt(50) = sqrt(25) * sqrt(2) = 5 * sqrt(2)

arwo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:a83d20d2-ef62-4224-874f-079c007120a4">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]Well I got 7/7 on the reading one, I'm not even going to bother with the math one. Tell me when in the real world I need to know how many laps Susie has to run before she makes as much money as Joeschmoe. They need practical application questions, like if your mortgage and bills take up 70% of your paycheck and you have an unexpected $200 expense this month, <strong>how much do you have left for beer?</strong>
Posted by maratea[/QUOTE]

Not nearly enough. That is always the correct answer.

The thing is, the types of math problems presented aren't "applicable"--but it's the same math. People that can see these as math problems, independent of context, are people that will be able to approach applicable problems in an appropriate way.

arwo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_could-graduate-10th-grade?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3bd5dcc9-e816-48c6-951b-0b9c91899d61Post:5ffbc6de-6f27-4f0b-a59b-f98fdbd068bd">Re: Could you graduate 10th grade?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks Midge, I'll try again. arwo! Hello!
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

Hiya Edie! What's the what?