MCAS Testing: Is it Necessary?

   
MCAS stands for Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system. The MCAS is a standardized test used in Massachusetts from the third grade to the tenth grade. It tests students in different subjects. It is also a high school graduation requirement. However the MCAS scores do not go under consideration during the college acceptance process. MCAS testing is unnecessary, because it is added stress to high school students, it takes away time that could be used for SAT prep, and can interfere with a student’s ability to get into college, and to succeed in life.

MCAS is a very stressful test for all high school students. The stakes are high, because passing the science, English, and math portions of the MCAS is a high school graduation requirement. During high school students have more than enough stress. What they do in high school will affect their lives forever. To be accepted into college they have to build up their resumes. They are expected to perform in their classes, as well as in sports, join clubs, do community service, and have a social life. That in itself is too much; the added pressure of MCAS is unnecessary. According to Scott Lang, mayor of New Bedford, the dropout rate actually increases, because of students who know that they are not able to pass the MCAS. The test has such high stakes, yet is not really a reflection of the students taking it. It is more of a reflection of the teachers who teach the material. The MCAS is not a test that is studied for, because the students have no way of really knowing what is on it. It is their teachers’ job to make sure they are prepared. However the teacher’s lives are really not affected if their students do poorly. Only the students have to deal with the repercussions of failing, when it really was not their fault. The added stress and harsh consequences of the MCAS tests are not healthy for high school students.

SAT's are tests, in which scores are given to the colleges and universities that students apply to. The entire purpose of high school is to prepare students for college. However time in the classroom is spent on MCAS prep, and has been since students were in the third grade. MCAS scores are not even given to colleges when students apply. SAT prep is a course that costs money and is completely separate from school. Also taking PSAT's costs money. It seems slightly absurd that prep work for a test that is a huge portion of the college acceptance process is not done in school, but prep work for a test that is has nothing to do with the college process is. This is especially absurd when the purpose of the school is to prepare its students for college. More time should be allotted for SAT prep rather than MCAS prep in high school classrooms.



Brendan Willis, with award he won in middle school.

Passing the math, science, and English portions of the MCAS tests are a high school graduation requirement for public schools. However they are not for private and religious schools. Although MCAS scores do not go to colleges, and do not directly affect the acceptance of students, they do indirectly affect this process. Without passing the MCAS a student will not receive a diploma. Without a diploma they will not be able to get into good colleges. According to Scott Lang from The Boston Globe 2,649 students will not receive diplomas, because they failed portions of the MCAS. Those students are also students who met all of the other graduation requirements. Brendan Willis of Marshfield is one of these students. According to Patrick Ronan of the Patriot Ledger, Brendan was accepted into Mitchell College, but will be unable to attend, because he failed the math portion of his MCAS. Brendan suffers from a learning disability, and has repeatedly failed the math portion of the MCAS. The last test he took he received a score of 218, which is two points away from passing. The amount of hardworking high school students who will not receive diplomas because of MCAS scores is deplorable. They are going to have to face a life of disadvantages. Future schools and jobs they apply for are not going to know they were good students who just failed the MCAS. All they will know is that they did not receive a high school diploma. A test like the MCAS should not be able to affect the life of a student the way it does.

MCAS is test that students are accustomed to taking by the time they get to high school. However the stress and harsh consequences of this test are too much for students of their age. They already have enough stress without having the MCAS looming over their heads. Their real concern at this time should be SAT's. The MCAS takes away precious class time, which could be spent prepping for the SAT's. The MCAS is a graduation requirement, so it can affect a student’s ability to get into college and to succeed in life. MCAS testing is unnecessary and can hurt students more than it can help anyone.