I Didn't Pass..

[Miss Cogs]

I didn't pass the math section of the WASL - again.
For those who don't know, the WASL is a big contraversal test that was originally created to test how teachers were performing by testing the students.
Eventually the state decided to make this apart of our requirements in order to graduate.
The standardized test test you on how people think a like basically. You must show all work that you did and how you did and after that you must explain how you came to the answer and why that is the answer and any work that you do not want apart of the "final" answer you must cross out.
But the trick is, you have to come of course the answer the way it is taught and not how the individual comes to the answer.
I was 12 points off this year from passing.
I moved up 3 points only. -_-
I'm very upset about this because I took 7 classes this year inorder to pass this thing and also due to state requirement (if you do not pass the math WASL you must take an extra math class).
I got up and went to school and an hour early before everyone else (along with my peers who also had to take the class in the morning).
I worked so hard on this and was so confident about passing and I do what?
Move up 3 points and find out that I have another failure in life to count?
Hopefully, my back - up plan comes through.
We all had to have a back - up plan that is we had to do 8 assignments demonstrating that we could perform mathematic skills.
That better work or I'm not graduating next year if I do not pass the WASL again next year.
I do not want to take 5 years of High School!
It will look horriable on my college transcript.
Damn it.


-_-

[HumanePain]

Sorry Miss Cogs. :hugs: Work on the backup plan to make sure it flies and let us know how you do.

[Miss Cogs]

Thank you, HP.
And I will.
I just hope I graduate next year....
That diploma..I could see it when I finished the WASL.
But now, I don't even know if I'll graduate next year...
This is all depressing.
I've taken this test ever since 4th grade (that I can remember) and not once can I remember passing the math section. ;_;
I'm beginning to think that I may be on idiot in math reasons....

[Splintered]

I took the WASL three years ago.

Trust me when I say it's not worth worrying about. Focus on doing well in your actual math classes, and you'll do good in the WASL. If you can, get in to Running Start (I dunno if that's a possibility for your high school), and tell your high school to bugger off.

The WASL is bogus. I was in the 99th percentile in both the reading and writing sections, and I insulted the people who gave the test to me. (Literally, I wrote in the reading and writing, "this is idiotic".)

So, just worry about getting good in the math classes you're currently taking, and the WASL will be a lot easier the next time you take it.

Also, Colleges rarely look at WASL scores. So don't worry about that.

Edit: Oh, I thought you might like to know:

Until 2013, students can still earn a diploma without one of the certificates if they:

• Meet the state’s reading and writing standards, and
• Earn math credits and test annually until graduation.

( http://www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequi...s/CAA-CIA.aspx)

[Miss Cogs]

Originally Posted by Splintered

Focus on doing well in your actual math classes, and you'll do good in the WASL.

I got an A in that extra math class. =/
Well, to look at that on the positive side I did move up 3 points...
I'm going to be study extra a lot over the summer (I'm forcing myself to).
I was hoping this would be a relaxing summer.
No worry about any school related things.
But now, I have to study over the summer and on top of that, come back to school knowing that I'm going to have to take the WASL again.
I passed reading with standard and writing with above standard.
So I do not have to worry about that those two sections...
I certainly hope that colleges do not looks at WASL scores nor the amount of years you were in high school if I end up taking 5 or more years of high school.

I didn't know you lived in Washington.

[Miss Cogs]

Originally Posted by Splintered

Edit: Oh, I thought you might like to know:

Until 2013, students can still earn a diploma without one of the certificates if they:

• Meet the state’s reading and writing standards, and
• Earn math credits and test annually until graduation.

( http://www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequi...s/CAA-CIA.aspx)

Yes. I'm did one of the other options as well. The "collection of evidence". That is my back - up plan and I hope it falls through.
I'm in a panic mode about not graduating. =/
Bleh. >.>

[Splintered]

A lot of colleges I know don't really care about WASL scores. Any community college won't bat an eye at them, and most public colleges won't really pay too much attention to them either, if you have a high GPA. If you do good on the ACT/SAT, I'd bet that they'd laugh at the WASL. (Seriously, I was in the book store the other day, and one of the T-Shirt had a "WASL SUCKS" T-shirt on). Your mileage may very though, so that's a caveat.

Most schools look at them as a "Oh, you took a test to comply with No Child Left Behind. That's nice", and then forget about them.

If I'm reading that website right, as long as you pass the reading/writing, and attempt the math every year, you'll still get your diploma. I could be wrong, and your school can change the requirements, but I believe that's true.

And yes, I do. I'm on the outskirts of Seattle.

[Miss Cogs]

I live in Tacoma.
That is interesting.
I never knew you lived around here.

I have my eyes dead set on Art Institute of Seattle.
I hope your right and I'm going to talk with my councilor come school time again about this just to make sure I get correct information.
Although, they themselves, do not always know what's what with the WASL most of the time.

[Splintered]

Ask AIS through an anonymous e-mail address what their view of the WASL is. (Like, get a free account at Hotmail or Yahoo, and send it under a pseudonym). That way you can see how much they care about the WASL, and not have that question be on any permanent record they have.

Make sure you do well on your SAT or ACT, because AIS requires you to have that. If you don't want to do either, you can take the COMPASS test which is put out by the same people who do ACT.

Edit: PM me and I can help you draft up a letter to the AIS that asks them about the WASL.

[Miss Cogs]

Okay I will. :]
Thank you Splintered. :hug:
You helped out a lot and I honestly appreciate your help out.

[Splintered]

No problem. I hate the WASL as much as the next person, so any chance I get to give the finger to the state makes me smile.

[Minyaliel]

Aww, that really sucks. I'm really sorry for you; let's just hope it'll all work out somehow. *hug*

[Miss Cogs]

Actually, I did some research last night.
For my graduating class who doesn't pass the math section, all they have to do is take two math classes after the first attempt (10th grade) and earn those two credits and still attempt at the WASL every year.
If I do that then I can still get my diploma. :]
Which I know I do that even if my back - up plan fails me.

[honeythorn]

I have the maths skills of a 7 year old. No joke. I can just about add up.

[Miss Cogs]

Originally Posted by honeythorn

I have the maths skills of a 7 year old. No joke. I can just about add up.

I hear the assessments you have to take are harder in the UK.
It can't be possible for you to have those math skills! D:
If I were to take a test there, they'd laugh at how horrible I am.

[raggedyanne]

The US's problem is that they dumb down the tests to make the scores look better. They also expect everyone to think the same way, like computers. All that the No Child Left Behind act does is make politicians feel better as they steal more money.
California has similar STAR tests. Load of rubbish. They've dumbed it all down to multiple choice.

Just get the credits, do the classes, and ignore the tests. The only people who truly care about the results are politicians and school administrators.

[Renatus]

At least you have a good work ethic. I'm afraid I'm going ot be having to retake two classes because even with my last ditch effort to get all the work done I still had too much missing work. In the last 24 hours before final grades had to be handed in I finished up about 3 projects, and 2 essays for 2 classes. Now I have to reschedule my shipment off to basic training, explain to countless people why I am still going to be in their lives 1 month from now, deal with my straight A extended families, and deal with my ever so supportive father.

The American school system sucks to put it plainly, it doesn't grade you on what you've learned. It's designed for people who can get the paperwork done even if they merely copied it off the internet, and boots the people do the work themselves on technecalities.

One thing I hate is how my econ teacher on one of the projects that I handed in at the end questioned if I wrote it or not because I was the only student who wrote how globalization of economies could help unite the world leading to world peace, as well as the fact that the vocabulary I used and the way I used it made it seem like it was written by somone decades older than me.

[raggedyanne]

Originally Posted by Renatus

One thing I hate is how my econ teacher on one of the projects that I handed in at the end questioned if I wrote it or not because I was the only student who wrote how globalization of economies could help unite the world leading to world peace, as well as the fact that the vocabulary I used and the way I used it made it seem like it was written by somone decades older than me.

You speak the truth. I run into the same thing. My teachers question my work because I actually care enough about world issues/literature/whatever to know what I'm talking about. And just because I speak proper english and write with a vocabulary larger than our president's does not necessarily mean I've gotten help on a project or paper.

[Underwater Ophelia]

Maybe your teachers are just stupid.

[honeythorn]

Originally Posted by Miss Cogs

I hear the assessments you have to take are harder in the UK.
It can't be possible for you to have those math skills! D:
If I were to take a test there, they'd laugh at how horrible I am.

You have that Calculus over there yes? I have no fucking idea what calculus is. I had never even heard of it until I started going on forums. I cannot divide, I can do only the most basic of multiplications. I have great difficulty subtracting, algebra does not exist for me.

We didn't study physics in my school. Which is just as well because there seems to be a lot of maths involved.

[raggedyanne]

Originally Posted by Underwater Ophelia

Maybe your teachers are just stupid.

I'll go with that!

[badteccy]

Just go to a Community College for a year or less and transfer, no biggie. I'm absolutely terrible at math too.

[KontanKarite]

Originally Posted by honeythorn

You have that Calculus over there yes? I have no fucking idea what calculus is. I had never even heard of it until I started going on forums. I cannot divide, I can do only the most basic of multiplications. I have great difficulty subtracting, algebra does not exist for me.

We didn't study physics in my school. Which is just as well because there seems to be a lot of maths involved.

We have Calculus and Trigonometry. It was hard, but we had a choice of stopping at Algebra 2 and just doing an applied math class or continuing on and doing the Calc and Trig classes. I did the calc and trig classes. They were tough, but they were a challenge and I wanted to know if I could do it or not.

I actually had really great math teachers. English teachers too. The others were only so so.. :-/

[honeythorn]

Originally Posted by badteccy

Just go to a Community College for a year or less and transfer, no biggie. I'm absolutely terrible at math too.

I would have to pay for that now I am over 18 ( and have been for some time ) and I haven't the money. I re-took maths when I first went to college anyway. I got exactly the same grade. F.

[Miss Cogs]

Originally Posted by honeythorn

You have that Calculus over there yes? I have no fucking idea what calculus is. I had never even heard of it until I started going on forums. I cannot divide, I can do only the most basic of multiplications. I have great difficulty subtracting, algebra does not exist for me.

We didn't study physics in my school. Which is just as well because there seems to be a lot of maths involved.

We have it.
But I've never taken it so I have no idea what is as well.
Basically, I've taken basic math, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry 1 and 2, and next year I'm going into Algebra 3 and 4.
I too have a great difficulty with subtraction, multiplication, and dividing as well. Hell, I have to count on my fingers sometimes when addition comes to me sometimes.