What is the state test like?

[-]

hypercell57@reddit

As far as I know, state testing is end of the year testing in certain grades, usually in elementary school. It is an assessment to measure academic learning, mostly in ELA and math, sometimes sciene. It usually measures students' knowledge to make sure most kids are on the same page and meeting certain standards of curriculum.

It is not usually called "state testing" to kids in class, and it's fairy unremarkable, as far as I remember. I do remember the scantron, though.

[-]

Background_Humor5838@reddit

Idk about all states but the state of NY has statewide standardized exams to ensure the entire state is up to a certain level of competency in that particular grade. It is mostly to assess the competence of the schools, curriculums, and teachers, and make sure the state is upholding a certain standard of education.

[-]

theatregirl1987@reddit

This varies so much state to state. It's called a state test because the state determines what it is, so each one has different tests.

Im in NY. Grades 3-8 are tested in Math and ELA, usually in April/May. There's a science test in one of the elementary grades, but I teach middle school so I don't remember which one. High school takes Regents exams. These are in every "core" subject and are required for graduation (its actually slightly more complicated but Im not getting into that now). That is changing in the next few years though.

[-]

kjb76@reddit

Changing? Please tell! I have a rising sophomore and would like to know more.

[-]

lyrasorial@reddit

It will not impact your kid. The changes will first impact students entering high school in 2027. Also, they been vague about it.

[-]

kjb76@reddit

Thanks!

[-]

TanglingPuma@reddit

Never heard of a state test. You can take an Advanced Placement (AP) test in high school to get into harder classes, but it’s voluntary and doesn’t impact whether you’ll be in school or not. The advanced classes are taught in the same school, usually by the same teachers, as the regular classes. It’s not a big deal at all. Some schools don’t offer it at all either, because they don’t have teachers who are accredited to teach it.

There are SAT/ACT tests to submit to universities, which is a bigger deal, maybe you’re seeing that?

[-]

o93mink@reddit

You don’t take AP tests to get into harder classes, you take AP tests after taking harder high school classes to get out of college classes.

[-]

TanglingPuma@reddit

I had to take placement tests to get into AP classes. Must be different by district.

[-]

Sassifrassically@reddit

The only sort of state test I remember taking was more of an assessment for the school than the student. It certainly never affect my schooling.

Unless you mean the SAT which getting a good score on can help you get into college. A bunch of states give the SAT, but you have to pay to take it and you don’t HAVE to take it to graduate. I did well with the English but terrible on the Math. So I went to a Junior college and transferred to a state university and it ultimately didn’t matter.

[-]

Fire_Mission@reddit

There are gobs of state mandated tests. Which one are you talking about?

[-]

No_Foundation7308@reddit

Standardized testing?

[-]

justdisa@reddit

Yup. Varies by state. Here's Washington State's current list of standardized tests:

https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing

As other people have said, we're mostly evaluating the schools rather than the students, although some of them are for placement in special classes or to receive special funding.

We do also drill on the states and their capitals, but that's a different thing. It's just straight-up memorization.

[-]

thepineapplemen@reddit

Standardized testing. At first I thought you meant a test just naming all the states or state capitals. Didn’t have to take it every year.

At one school we took the ITBS, the Iowa something or other. Always wondered why it had Iowa in the name. Probably just that private school I went to.

Georgia Milestones was the main one. Honestly I don’t know what they used the results for.

[-]

Imaginary_Roof_5286@reddit

We call it “standardized testing” and my understanding was that it was for statistical purposes as much as anything. At certain ages, it might help determine what level of classes is appropriate for you to be in, but once you’re on one track, you have to work pretty hard to not be on it.

The testing to go to college/university is something different that not all students take. It’s taken near the end of secondary/high school. The scores are submitted to the schools being applied to and can influence whether or not one is admitted. My eldest was bored in his secondary score classes, although he was in the most advanced track, & didn’t do his required homework, so his class grades didn’t reflect his knowledge. (His teachers graded down for incompleteness work.) His SAT score, however, did reflect his knowledge & I’m convinced we’re the reason he got to go to university. Thankfully, he’d learned his lesson and flourished in college& ended going back to school for a graduate degree.

[-]

TsundereLoliDragon@reddit

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

Huh that's so crazy to me I thought this was a thing but I'm really sorry

[-]

anneofgraygardens@reddit

Can you link to a tiktok, since you see it all the time? Maybe we can help explain what it is.

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

I don't see it all the time but I can look up a few examples for you

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdaJQJyG/ around 0.46 https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdaJP1mQ/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdaJaU7P/

[-]

Weird_Wrap5130@reddit

Each state has their own testing and rules. For where I am, California, they have no bearing on students. It's mostly reflective of how teachers are doing and can also be a tool to see where ur kids need help. I also believe its used to determine which school gets more funding. So higher scores means more money for the district. It doesn't stop you from moving on to the next level though. In fact, in CA the test is optional and parents can opt you out but they don't advertise that. When I was a kid it was called STAR testing and now I think it's iready or lexia? I dunno, they keep changing the name. I find it funny many aren't familiar with the term "state testing", it's a normal term for me. It's just a comprehensive test on all subjects that you take for a number of days. It's a pretty big deal only because it takes up so much time. Kids will be testing for days. It's hard to get the little ones to pay attention and then older kids may get anxiety over it. I told my oldest the truth, that it's reflective on the teacher not her and won't ever effect her. When I was growing up they made us feel like it was life or death. And back then we got our results in class so we all got to compare how stupid we were lol.

[-]

DOMSdeluise@reddit

All states have standardized tests that students are required to take at the end of the year. For schools as an institution, as well as for teachers and admin staff, these tests are extremely high stakes - funding is tied to test performance, and persistently low scores can get teachers and admin fired or even get schools closed. For students, the stakes are much less. In some states very poor performance can get you held back, but in other states that doesn't happen. Low performers can also get more academic support for the next year to help them succeed better, and stuff like that. But other than that test performance doesn't affect your grade and certainly isn't something that colleges even evaluate.

[-]

atheologist@reddit

These seem like they're referring to state level standardized tests, but what they're called and when they actually take place varies widely by state. Massachusetts has something called MCAS that is taken in various grades from elementary through high school. New York has elementary and intermediate state exams and then Regents, which are required to graduate high school.

[-]

the_quark@reddit

Some states have standardized testing to evaluate how well their schools are doing. It's a big deal in that it takes several days and interrupts everything else.

However, it's not a "pass this or you can't go to university" or anything like that. It's just an evaluation of how well the system is working.

[-]

anneofgraygardens@reddit

Okay. A little baffling, but I still think the first two are about SAT tests. The third one is something different, because SAT tests aren't administered by teachers. Every state in the US has its own education system and some of them do have statewide standardized exams. I'd guess that's what's going on there.

[-]

Argo505@reddit

They’re not talking about the SAT.

[-]

anneofgraygardens@reddit

I am aware. It just sounds so weird. I've literally never heard anyone talk about "state testing" phrased like that, so I am assuming it's some kind of AI error. But who knows, maybe in some other states people talk about it all the time!

[-]

Argo505@reddit

…how would it be an “AI error”?

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

No not the sat but the one you take in primary but apparently they all have different namesbut I'm just going to delete this post because there are too many people confused

[-]

Argo505@reddit

OHHHH I bet it's the SAT! Said aloud it does sound kind of like "state".

…no it doesn’t.

[-]

PaBlowEscoBear@reddit

Just clarify?

We do generally have end of grade testing for each grade level in most states, administered by that state. If that's what you mean.

If you edit your post to ask "How are grade-level standardized tests in your state?" I think that gets closer to what you want.

[-]

Dr_Watson349@reddit

American has 50 states. Each one sets their own school curriculum. On top of that individual school districts can vary in what and how they teach in a state.

There is not set thing in the US when it comes to school.

[-]

geekycurvyanddorky@reddit

State testing is a big deal for schools, because it shows whether students are on track with learning subjects they need to know. If students preform poorly it reflects back into the teachers and other staff.

The testing is mainly for language arts, sciences, and mathematics. They are taken within the same week but not at the same time, and it happens in 3rd-8th grade, and again in 11th grade. It can be embarrassing for students if they need to retake a test, but they are allowed to do so until they preform at grade level on the tests. The difficulty level of these tests is on par with tests they take in their actual LA, sciences, and mathematics classes.

Students aren’t typically held back for failing a year (or even several), anymore. But some parents and teachers are smart enough and care enough that they do work together against schools to have students retake a year if they need to. It’s quite a headache, even though it’s a necessary thing for some students.

Please don’t be embarrassed over asking about state testing, even though some people razzed you over the name of it. It really does exist, it just has different names in different states.

[-]

nyyforever2018@reddit

It’s the standardized test at the end of the year, but they vary so dramatically by state I can tell you very little.

[-]

o93mink@reddit

I have never in my life heard of the state test, and have no idea what you’re talking about

[-]

SpecificJunket8083@reddit

Same

[-]

CupBeEmpty@reddit

I’m guessing he’s talking about state assessment exams? We too ISTEP in Indiana growing up. It had no actual impact on us but just indicated where different kids might need help in a certain subject and how each school was doing overall.

It didn’t limit whether you could go to college or slot you into a particular type of program.

[-]

BlasphemousRykard@reddit

The term “state test” is throwing people off, but this is what OP is talking about:

https://www.educationadvanced.com/blog/list-of-standardized-tests-by-state

Each state creates their own standardized test that you take at the end of each year, typically from grades 3-8. These tests help determine who should be in honors classes (they teach faster than regular class) and who needs remedial class (slower than regular class), but mostly they’re aggregated and used by school districts to track performance of students and teachers.

They aren’t a very big deal, I don’t remember ever studying for it personally.

[-]

the_real_JFK_killer@reddit

Many states have an end of year test. In Texas growing up with was the TAKS test. It usually doesnt affect your grade and is basically grading the school. They're standardized across the state, generally. That might be what you're referring to. They dont in any way affect what school you go to.

You also might be referring to finals. That's not a state thing, each class does its own final. They usually are worth a big chunk of your grade (10-20%) and so people stress out about them.

There are also tests you can take to get into high level classes, math is a common one for this.

It's expected that almost all students go to highschool. There is no test that changes that.

[-]

Mental_Freedom_1648@reddit

NY has Regents exams, which you can read about here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Regents_Examinations

There are also proficiency tests, which assess how well the school is doing.

[-]

InfidelZombie@reddit

This seems like a made up Internet thing. TikeTook is the one with the vertical videos and robot voices right? You should probably avoid that web site or app (if they have one).

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

No it's real it's just state testing not 'state test'

[-]

InfidelZombie@reddit

Also never heard of that, but I went to high school 25 years ago. Maybe it's only in one state?

[-]

IPreferDiamonds@reddit

What is a State test? I've never heard of this.

[-]

workntohard@reddit

Many states have standardized tests in schools for different grades. Often used for evaluating how schools are doing compared to peers and standards.

[-]

Codee33@reddit

Standardized testing through primary and secondary school is what I think is being referenced.

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

I think it's not in all states anymore or it has a different name but I'm really sorry I saw it in books or on tv when I was little and now on social media

[-]

Lunari64@reddit

In New York State we have two different kinds of state tests

The ones in like 3rd-8th grade (ish) are just measuring how well the school/teacher/students are doing, and usually has no bearing on the student's actual gpa or ability to move on to the next grade.

Once you get into high school you have Regents exams, which are state-mandated final exams for most subjects that do weigh into gpa and whether or not they pass the class. Very stressful and very sucky. Often riddled with errors. They're taken so late into the school year that classrooms with no AC are boiling. Everyone is exhausted and wants to go home. Seriously, they suck.

[-]

bloopidupe@reddit

New York and New Jersey have state testing.

For NY, we had the regents tests in high school.

For all grades we had annual testing to see if we were meeting grade requirements. I don't know why would happen if you did poorly.

[-]

seifd@reddit

If it's what I think it is, it's not what you think. It's not any sort of entrance exam. Rather, it's used to get an idea of how the school's doing.

My own experience was back in the 90s, so not the most up to date. The school sent notes home asking our parents to make sure we got enough sleep and ate a good breakfast. They gave us some food to eat before we started. Then we were given a Scantron form. We filled in our personal details and then took two multiple choice tests. I think is was science and social studies. At the end of the year, the school gave me a certificate for getting such a high score.

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

No not an entrance exam but you kinda explain what I mean

[-]

tlonreddit@reddit

Each state has its own test. Georgia, for example, takes the GMAS (Georgia Milestone Assessment System) If it's a private school, there's no requirement but typically they have a privately run test (in my kids' case when they were in elementary and middle school, the NWEA MAP test) to assess growth and run their school.

[-]

howdoimergeaccounts@reddit

Florida's is Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test

[-]

Express-Stop7830@reddit

Do you mean:

State standardized testing? (Here in FL, I think it is still 4th, 8th, and 10th grades.) It impacts teachers' records and school's funding.
Standardized Aptitude Test - SAT (that's what's it means, I think. It's been several decades) or ACT (not even gonna try. You can Google.)? These scores impact a student's applications to university
Semester/final exams? These are heavily weighted portions of a final grade for a class.
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams? These can ear university credits and/or earn separate diplomas.

There may be more, but I'm middle aged and haven't thought about these levels of hell in a while. And I don't watch the tikky tokkies. So, any of these sound right?

[-]

rpv123@reddit

There used to be something called The Iowa Test - it’s how they figured out in my district (even though I was in MA) who would be in the gifted program.

I took it in 1st grade but I’m not sure it’s done anymore as my son got to 2nd grade only ever taking the STAR assessment. If he was still in public school, he’d take the MCAS but we moved him to private (partly because his STAR assessment was off the charts and the choice was to move him to private with other gifted kids who were just as socially awkward as him or have him skip a grade - the choice was easy on our hearts, not on our wallets.)

[-]

steviehatillo@reddit

I knew what you meant right away. Most states have some kind of standardized testing that’s used to compare school districts across the state. Each state does it differently. In Massachusetts we had MCAS and there are different versions for different grades from 3rd to 10th, and not all grades are tested on every subject. Many people are advocating for getting rid of the testing but right now you must pass in order to graduate with your high school diploma. As students, everyone hated it. Teachers hate it too much it interrupts their regular curriculum.

[-]

fibro_witch@reddit

Are you maybe think about the SAT? Scholastic Aptitude Test that colleges use to pick who to admit to their schools. It is administered by the College board Educational Testing Services and will be 100 years old next year. There is one test for math and one for English. The highest shore for each component is 800. Some people pay extra for classes leading up to the SAT you can also take a preSAT to see how well you will do on the real SAT.

There are also specialized test you can take for law and med school. For college bound seniors if is a big thing.

Public schools also have regular state wide testing to grade schools against the state standards.

[-]

shelwood46@reddit

If you mean the states' various assessment tests that are given to most grade schoolers annually, that has almost no impact on students, it's mostly for the teachers/admin/district. They may use it to see who might need remedial help or go into G&T but it's not anything binding and has nothing to do with whether you get promoted or what schools you go to.

There are some specialty lower schools that require testing into, but for the most part the US is not like a number of Euro countries where you have to choose at 11 what track you get set on. Even if you take vo-tech for high school, you can still take the SAT and go to college, you can even take a GED. You may not get into a fancy college, but you'll probably get in somewhere, most community colleges don't have grade or testing requirements for admission. There are privately administered tests you might take in high school (SAT, ACT) or university (GRE, LSAT, MCAT) to help universities and grad schools decide whether to take you, those do tend to be under pressure for taking.

[-]

brzantium@reddit

This is something each state does differently. As far as I know (which seems to be confirmed by a lot confused responses here) no one calls it "the state exam". Rather each state has a name for their particular exams. Here in Texas we have the STAAR exam, but when I was in school, it was called TAAS. They're just academic assessments and have no bearing on a student's academic trajectory. The state will use the overall scores partly to determine where resources are needed and hold schools accountable. If a school repeatedly has low scores, the district may shut down that school. If a district as a whole has low scores, the state may take over the district.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_state_achievement_tests_in_the_United_States

[-]

WillieB52@reddit

Georgia has a standardized test that is given every 3 years.

[-]

JBoy9028@reddit

The only state test that comes to my mind was the MEAP. Michigan Educational Assessment Program. Its been replaced about 10 years ago. It was a standardized multiple choice and short essay test whose job was to provide the state of Michigan with information on how well the different school districts were successfully teaching their students(5th grade through 8th grade). Funding was then divided amongst the districts based on the district's rankings.

[-]

GullibleAudience6071@reddit

I think you’re mixing multiple ideas.

We have a state test where you name all 50 states and their capitals. Generally taken in middle school (11-12yo) and can stress out younger kids to memorize 100 places. It doesn’t determine anything placement wise

We have ACTs or SATs at the end of high school (18-19yo) which are college placement tests.

We also have standardized testing (my school used NWEA MAP) all throughout school. This is probably what you’re referring to. These are placement tests that put you in a percentile of all US students at your grade level. If you score low you might be given extra attention by teachers to help you learn. If you score high you might be put in accelerated classes.

They don’t really determine your level because you take them twice a year and can move up or down accordingly. You are still at the same school and have the same class as the other groups. The only difference is that accelerated classes generally take less time to cover material so they tend to do more.

[-]

Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit

I’ll be honest I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m assuming you mean standardized testing. There’s no national standardized test in the US. Each state has proficiency tests, but they are base level material each state determines what should be learned by a specific age. For instance, in NJ, there’s the GEPA for 8th grade. There’s 1 for 11th grade but I forget what it’s called. But there’s no 8th grade test called “GEPA” in Wisconsin

[-]

VoluptuousValeera@reddit

^yes. I'd like to say that at least in my state- it doesn't determine a student's ability to move on. It determines funding to the school that student is at and potentially benefits to the teacher of that student per the school.

[-]

Prestigious-Name-323@reddit

Like the state standardized tests? No it doesn’t determine where you go to school or anything like that.

The ACT/SAT give you a score that helps colleges determine who they want to admit and financial aid. Those obviously have much more importance.

[-]

Pitiful_Fox5681@reddit

It varies

[-]

Odd-Help-4293@reddit

Many states have certain tests that they make students take. The point of these tests is to evaluate how successful the school is at educating their students. My recollection is that they were mostly very boring.

[-]

Apocalyptic0n3@reddit

Obligatory: our school system is decentralized. Every aspect of it varies based on state, county, district, and even school.

At first I thought you just had to name all states😆

We do this, yes. We're given a blank map and have to label them all. I had to do state capitals too. It's really not a big deal.

But is it like the test you get at the end of primary school to determine what level of school you get?

We don't do this.

I know it is very different than where I live but I thought that there are also different levels to English and maths in high school.

At least for me, accelerated placement was done based on teacher recommendation. When I went to 7th grade (Junior High), my 6th grade teacher recommended I take 8th grade math and science, which I did. We also have Advanced Placement (commonly just "AP") courses in high school that are college courses we take in high school. We can take a test at the end of it to be awarded college credits and get a head start on college.

Or is it as a final exam for your promary school, or do you get it every jear to test your knowledge from that school jear?

Elementary schools don't really do exams. Junior High/Middle School and High School generally will have an exam at the end of each semester.

And is it one test ore are it different tests for each subject?

It's per-class and is administered by the teacher. It is not standardized.

What standardized tests are there?

You didn't ask this, but it's a common question here. In general:

Every state will have a standardized test all schools have to administer. At least when I was in school, it was every other year. These tests have little-to-no impact on the students taking them and instead are used to evaluate the school. It does not count toward your grades or you passing a class or the year.
As mentioned above, AP exams happen at the end of an AP class. These are optional and some students opt not to take them. They are administered by a third party, the College Board, not the government
We also have the SAT and ACT. These are also non-government tests administered by private organizations and are generally used as college entrance exams. Not everyone takes these and those that do generally only take one of them. These have fallen out of favor in recent years, although I've heard they're coming back post-COVID.

[-]

solomons-marbles@reddit

Each state runs their education dept differently. My state does week long standardized testing in the 2nd (maybe) 4th, 6th, 8th & 10th.

A state geography test would be part of a geography class in middle school or high school.

[-]

DownhomeinGeorgia@reddit

Do you mean standardized testing?

[-]

Fancy-Construction85@reddit (OP)

Yes I think I'm so so sorry

[-]

DownhomeinGeorgia@reddit

That’s a bigger deal to teachers, and your parents, until you get ready to think about college.

Teachers get evaluated on how their students do. So do schools.

[-]

BotherBoring@reddit

It's just for data collection. They call it state testing because the state mandates exactly how it's done.

[-]

MetroBS@reddit

You’re probably referring to the standardized state test

Each state operates their own version of this and they each do it differently

It actually has no bearing on the level of education the student will received. The student is never even graded on it. It’s done to evaluate the different school districts and to see which ones are doing better, which ones should be given more money, and stuff like that

But again, this varies state to state. And it is very different from the SAT

[-]

BeholderLivesMatter@reddit

In fifth grade we were taught all 50 states and their capitals. We were to have a test. 1 point for each correct answer. 100 points total. I did not study until the walk to school. I scored a 12.

[-]

Sweet_Cinnabonn@reddit

Every state has some standardized testing to see if the students are performing on grade level.

Usually they are done in the last weeks of the school year.

Every state has different tests, and they are done differently.

In my state the first year students are tested is 3rd grade (8 to 9 years old), then 5th, then I think 8th. Those years students are tested on core subject areas, math, English, science and social studies.

In the younger years they are used informally to determine how a student is doing, but they won't pass or fail based on them.

In the last years of old high school you can't pass a class unless you pass its associated state test, no matter how your classes went.

[-]

spitfire451@reddit

This is not a thing.

[-]

EmeraldLovergreen@reddit

I’m in my mid 40’s and we had a test in fifth grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade and 11th grade. They were called proficiency tests back then. The one in 11th grade was a state test for sure to see if you had reached enough knowledge to graduate in my state. If you passed in 11th grade you just had to complete your senior year didn’t have any more tests of this level. If you didn’t, you had to retake it until you passed or you couldn’t graduate. I think they offered it every few months.

[-]

Chrisg69911@reddit

The state standardized tests? Each state does it differently. In NJ you have the NJGPA and NJSLA. They are both tests to see if students are learning the standards the state has set, it tests on english/history, science, and math, and you take them at different times throughout your schooling career. The NJSLA doesn't really matter for the student, but the NJGPA does, as if you don't pass, you don't graduate (similar to the NY regents)

[-]

Chica3@reddit

State testing is end of the school year testing required by each state. It's just a way to collect data on students and schools. It doesn't impact grades or which school you attend the next year.

[-]

Additional-Studio-72@reddit

I think you’re referring to the high school exit exams, or the state assessment tests for public schools. They’re standardized, but each state’s DoEdu does something different. I was a “gifted” student and had passed all sections halfway through freshman year in a state not exactly known for intelligence.

[-]