The California High School Exit Exam

[wrx'03]

There is a huge debate right now on the California High School Exit Exam
Here is a short background:

1. Each year in California, high school seniors must pass a statewide exit exam in order to receive their high school diploma.

2. A judge has temporarily suspended it so that the 47,000 students who haven't passed it can still receive their diploma.

3. The exit exam has two parts, a reading portion and a math portion. Students are tested up to a 10th grade level on the reading portion and must answer 60% of the multiple choice questions correctly to pass. Students are tested up to a ninth grade level on the math portion and are required to answer 55% of the multiple choice questions to pass. Students can take the test as many times as they want starting from 10th grade and can pass each section separately.

The current debate is that a judge has suspended the requirement to pass the exit exam for high schoolers to receive a high school diploma. There are many aspects to this so I'll begin with the authority of the judge. The judge is not an expert in the field of education, yet he wants to pass everyone just for showing up to high school. I feel that showing up and actually learning something is completely separate. The world isn't fair and I feel that the judge is just setting up these kids for failure in the future if they receive a free pass on this exam.

The school officials made this exam as easy as possible so that the majority of the people could pass. Here are the current stats from last year. 83% of people from disadvantaged backgrounds passed the test. 71% of people who don't speak english as a native language passed the test. The current pass rate of the high school exam in the low 90th percentile. Instead of all this focus on the officials and the education structure, maybe we should look at the reason why some kids don't pass the exam. In this day in age, where we are so quick to blame the infrastructure, we hardly look at a much more simple cause which is the students and parents of these students. If these people cared even a little about their education they could pass the test. This is illustrated from a sample test question from the math portion. "If Susie bought a car for $4,200 and sold it for a 30% profit, then how much did she sell the car for?" In this multiple choice answer, two of the answers were below $4,200. If you took a wild guess, you would have a 50% chance to get the answer correct. Now if you actually learned something in high school, it wouldn't be too hard to get a 55%.

In this society, people want everyone to be equal, so we have these crusaders who think everyone should pass. In the real world, not everyone is equal. Some people will pass the test with very high marks, most people will pass the test, and some people will fail it. To give everyone a free pass would be like a communist country where everyone is equal, no matter how well you do.

I feel the judge made a huge mistake in his ruling and that the kids will suffer later on in life. Especially now that a high school diploma means absolutely nothing since anyone can obtain one. It's only a matter of time before kids who passed the exam sue the state because their diploma means nothing now.

[zhy378]

hmm..i dont know this is a big issue to everyone since it only apply to highschool students in california. even though there are other states like new york where they have high school exit exam as well.

well, i remember this so called california high school exit exam, i remember how much of a deal it is because the class before mine was the guinea pig of taking the exam. by the time it was our class to take it, people make it more serious. it is an easy test because it is eighth grade knowledge and they just want to make some people with disabilities to pass, too.
just few days ago my friend told me about this, how now this test isnt taken so seriously like calling it off. man, this is wrong, we could have spend better of our education than exam that later isnt used anymore.

[liliceprincess]

hmm actually we have an exit exam here in las vegas..it is called the proficiency exam but it seems to be the same thing that you are talking about
I think that they should have it, i mean it tells you how well you do and how the expectiation of the state is and your own level or learning
I do have to agreee that they should have kept the exam as a requirement..in addition yes, they are easy but at the same time the exams prove who can do that work and who is messing around in school. But at the same time it does not necessarily prove that you cannot work. I mean you think abotu some people are not good with test and yet they have good grades..at times it is the nerves that get scared. I believe that yes, we should have it. Even in las vegas, we have the exam and it gives a practice and feeling to how life will be. If you fail, you can try again, and it shows if people are willing to do their work and study.
I dont think it was truly necessary to have people graduate and get off without the exam because they should know the pressure and feeling to have to take a exam. Yes, it can be hectic and stressful but that is how life is in the real world. Everything are test no matter what..there will always be people testing your abilities..i believe they should have kept it.

[Singerchick]

This test was beyond easy.

But the main arguement was that it was unfair for those who go to schools that don't have high standards and cannot afford to go anywhere else, right?

But then it's like, if you can't pass the test then what's the point of getting your High School Diploma? If you don't have the skills to do the problems on the test, then you'll probably end up in the same place you would have been in without a High School Diploma.

[wrx'03]

I'm glad to see how many people have passed the test and thought that it was easy. I realize that not all schools have the same standards, which is why the school officials made the test so easy and if we entertain the notion that these exams shouldn't be allowed because some schools are not up to standard, then we will never be able to identify these schools (if they exist) and fix the problem(s). It's a vicious circle where the people who get hurt the most are the students themselves.

[bebyjaystaa]

i just took it this year! & i totally passed with flying colors :-) it's way easy & everyone should be able to pass it. besides those who just came to america or wahatever. like they have bad grammer. :oops: but i guess it isnt fair to those seniors who dont pass it and cant graduate. :? i dont know

[chineseguyjl]

i took this last year when it started. it was extremely easy but i still dont get how some people fail it. I mean i got advance without studying. I think the decision to remove this standard is stupid, i'd say if u cant pass that test then u dont deserve a high school diploma. maybe i'm kinda harsh like for the immigrants. srry but if they cant pass it then they should take more classes or attend another year of high school, like WRX said, if the kids that dont pass the test will suffer more if they just give them the high school diploma. srry if i offended anybody but i feel strongly about this

[seaweedpatchkid]

I took this test when I was...a sophomore in High School and I passed it in one shot. It's not that flippin hard. I don't see why a judge would go and suspend it because it's ridiculous! The stuff on the test is basically eighth grade math!

If they can't even pass that, what's meaning behind a high school diploma? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It's just a sheet of paper that says nothing now.

[xiaoting]

Um...totally unrelated but i just find it funny that you're 26 years old and you're so concerned about this high school exam. =P

anyways, yeah! i totally agree with you! why spend SO much money on a exam that's middle school level?! I live in texas, which also has a test you have to pass to get into college. it's called Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). it's extremely easy, yet the state wants to lower the difficulty level in order for the students to pass. it's crazy!

[xanimeotakux]

i heard that it is extremely easy. but for the immigrants, it isn't. there are spanish speakers, and they have to take the exam. there isn't a spanish version of it. not to mention, their grammar is not exactly perfected yet. so it's very hard for them to understand what's on the exam. but i still think this exam should be required to be able to receive your high school diploma. without this exam...i think high school wouldn't be as challenging. even though the exam is said to be easy. yes, there's the SATS, the finals, etc. but that exit exam decides if you'll graduate or not. without it, i don't think it'll be fair to others.

[babyxv]

I don't really think the CAHSEE proves that students are ready to graduate from high school. The fact that we take the test as SOPHOMORES is saying that we only need to be proficient in math&reading at a sophomore level to graduate, which is ridiculous. Actually, the content on these tests included things most people learned in middle school.

[amisurexcitee]

^ I agree. But it's nice not being a sophomore and having late start days! =] That's the only good thing that comes out of it. I really don't see why someone wouldn't pass the CAHSEE, but I don't know. Maybe there are still people who don't pass. I feel bad for them! ><"

[E_Revolutions]

I think the CAHSEE is really a waist of time..yes its required and what not...but I feel that they give you way to much time..it really bothers me cus i could be doing other things like my hwk instead of that test or whatnot...

[Chun Li]

Hey, I'm waaaaaaay out of high school but I'm all for it. Honestly, I'm sick of people calling Americans stupid, so, get smarter and pass the damn exam and bring up the average so I can stop having to defend the idiot American high schoolers in the workplace.

[jAy is a s h y_ b o i]

i think we had that. we even included swimming in it. stupid right? haha
but yes it is real easy. i think the math level is geometry.
i think its a good thing tho. we can't just let people walk out of there learning nothing

[bawkbawkchicken]

hahahaa i just took the cahsee last year... :-x it was....exciting. -_- not.
ahah

[chaNK]

im from california.. passed it sophomore year.. its not too hard.. i had the white unicorn pony story thing.. pretty easy.. its like 3rd grade testing.. the only problem is... for exchange students..+ californias immigrants (hispanics).. it gives them a really hard time in passing because of the english testing.. i think the testing should apply but not to all students.. its fairly easy.. im pretty sure ppl in junior high can pass the test with no worries.

[chineseguyjl]

im from california.. passed it sophomore year.. its not too hard.. i had the white unicorn pony story thing.. pretty easy.. its like 3rd grade testing.. the only problem is... for exchange students..+ californias immigrants (hispanics).. it gives them a really hard time in passing because of the english testing.. i think the testing should apply but not to all students.. its fairly easy.. im pretty sure ppl in junior high can pass the test with no worries.
but why? that would cause more problems for u and them in the long run, which messes with the nations economics. if you think about it, isnt it better to have them stay where they are then pass them. i mean this nation is run by english, and if they dont know the basics they wont survive. lets say they pass, how are they going to produce and help our GDP, they cant even own a business, and their high school credential would be meaningless. it would just get their hopes up and then fail at even a higher downfall. i think its better to just not give them their high school diploma unless they pass this ridiculously easy test, and atleast prove that. if they dont pass, they can help the GDP LRAS by doing low wage jobs and maximizing our utility while the ones who passed it sit back and watch our money grow. low wage jobs=more money for owners=cheaper prices.

[orangeman]

but why? that would cause more problems for u and them in the long run, which messes with the nations economics. if you think about it, isnt it better to have them stay where they are then pass them. i mean this nation is run by english, and if they dont know the basics they wont survive. lets say they pass, how are they going to produce and help our GDP, they cant even own a business, and their high school credential would be meaningless. it would just get their hopes up and then fail at even a higher downfall. i think its better to just not give them their high school diploma unless they pass this ridiculously easy test, and atleast prove that. if they dont pass, they can help the GDP LRAS by doing low wage jobs and maximizing our utility while the ones who passed it sit back and watch our money grow. low wage jobs=more money for owners=cheaper prices.

Schools can't teach the basic years of English required to pass the CAHSEE if some people just immigrated to America during their middle-school/high-school years. I just took it, and it's relatively simple and basic. But if you factor how long it takes immigrants to learn and master English, there's a bigger chance of not passing. It's not always about money and how to help the economy, but what a diploma is actually worth.

Would you not let them pass high school just because they can't pass a test? What example do we set when they work hard to succeed, but we fail them just because of a little test? The basic immigration philosophy is "better hope in America". My parents wanted to give me that, and most immigrant families do it for their children. You can't say someone will succeed or not, just because they don't pass the CAHSEE.

China is based on the chinese language, but they are learning English. Why can't Americans learn other languages? It's not hard, as we are the wealthiest nation in the nation with tons of resources. Every nation in the world is learning English, and we should at least try to learn theirs.

High Schools should reconsider this exit exam, because thousands of kids, such as immigrants, fail to pass. Give them a second chance, or at least an alternative method.

[chineseguyjl]

Schools can't teach the basic years of English required to pass the CAHSEE if some people just immigrated to America during their middle-school/high-school years. I just took it, and it's relatively simple and basic. But if you factor how long it takes immigrants to learn and master English, there's a bigger chance of not passing. It's not always about money and how to help the economy, but what a diploma is actually worth.

Would you not let them pass high school just because they can't pass a test? What example do we set when they work hard to succeed, but we fail them just because of a little test? The basic immigration philosophy is "better hope in America". My parents wanted to give me that, and most immigrant families do it for their children. You can't say someone will succeed or not, just because they don't pass the CAHSEE.

China is based on the chinese language, but they are learning English. Why can't Americans learn other languages? It's not hard, as we are the wealthiest nation in the nation with tons of resources. Every nation in the world is learning English, and we should at least try to learn theirs.

High Schools should reconsider this exit exam, because thousands of kids, such as immigrants, fail to pass. Give them a second chance, or at least an alternative method.
second chance? they should just get it at adult school or local college. they can still get a GED and continue from there. looking at the kids in the ELD classes, most of which are immigrants, it doesnt look like they even want to learn. which means i still say that if they cant pass the test that they should not be able to graduate.

"better hope in america" it is still true if they dont graduate, they still would be making more than in their own country. but how many of the people that wont pass actually be successful compared to the people that wont care about life and ust have kids.

America isnt learning other languages because sinply we dont have to. it is the language to know for business, and when u get to know business more u learn chinese because it seems these are the top languages behind economic power.

[orangeman]

second chance? they should just get it at adult school or local college. they can still get a GED and continue from there. looking at the kids in the ELD classes, most of which are immigrants, it doesnt look like they even want to learn. which means i still say that if they cant pass the test that they should not be able to graduate.
"better hope in america" it is still true if they dont graduate, they still would be making more than in their own country. but how many of the people that wont pass actually be successful compared to the people that wont care about life and ust have kids.
America isnt learning other languages because sinply we dont have to. it is the language to know for business, and when u get to know business more u learn chinese because it seems these are the top languages behind economic power.

Though there are people that don't want to really learn, there are some that do. But if you hold them back, it's not helping anyone. Why not tell them what they did wrong? You might not think it's worth the time, but I do. However people want to learn or not, they all deserve a chance. For those who fail just because they don't care, that's their problem. For those who can't pass because they are trying but don't understand or know the concepts/standards, we should strive to give them a chance. Why should they fail if schools fail to teach properly? Blame is not only towards the student.

America doesn't want to learn another language. We tend to think the world revovles around us. Somehow, English is the only language needed to know. Because most people don't care, all there is is English. And people treat foreigners like crap, because they can't speak English right. Honestly, one who speaks 2 or 3 more languages would do better in business.

All I'm saying is look from the perspective of immigrants. They do their best, even if they've made some bad choices. Everyone deserves a chance.

[stag]

The exam forces those who haven't been really taking anything seriously to get their act together, I remember going to a really bad high school and there were study sessions in senior year for those who didn't pass, of course once the do pass they just ended up dicking around again :dry:

meh, at least they learn something from their four years in hs.

[chineseguyjl]

Though there are people that don't want to really learn, there are some that do. But if you hold them back, it's not helping anyone. Why not tell them what they did wrong? You might not think it's worth the time, but I do. However people want to learn or not, they all deserve a chance. For those who fail just because they don't care, that's their problem. For those who can't pass because they are trying but don't understand or know the concepts/standards, we should strive to give them a chance. Why should they fail if schools fail to teach properly? Blame is not only towards the student.

America doesn't want to learn another language. We tend to think the world revovles around us. Somehow, English is the only language needed to know. Because most people don't care, all there is is English. And people treat foreigners like crap, because they can't speak English right. Honestly, one who speaks 2 or 3 more languages would do better in business.

All I'm saying is look from the perspective of immigrants. They do their best, even if they've made some bad choices. Everyone deserves a chance.
what exactly do u mean by "tell them what they did wrong" ? like what problems they got wrong?

if they dont pass the cahsee it doesnt mean that they fail in life, it just means they have to work harder to gain more. failing them is actually helping them, it gives them more time to learn rather than just skipping the basics and moving on to not even understanding what is going on in college. this test only tells the student whether they are prepared or not, if they arent and there wasnt a cahsee then how will they ever succeed.

the second chance is always there, if they learn at a slower pace then let them learn at a slower pace at adult school, night school, community college and if they dont want to they they just dont have a passion to learn. if u just let them pass then ur just ignoring the fact that they dont understand the basics and continuing on to harder courses which depend on the knowledge of the basics. in the end of it all the cahsee is GOOD.

and that generalization that a bilingual person makes better business is wrong. it all depends on a mindset and government. this isnt talking about english speakers. in america people get rich by trading, to be rich doesnt mean u have to be bilingual. say for example, John D. Rockafeller which is the richest man in all history, who got rich for railroads i believe. he traded with americans and scamed people out of their business, whenever there was a thing he couldnt do or didnt want to do he hired people to do the work for low wage while gaining all the profits. now today being rich doesnt mean u have to be bilingual, u can just hire someone to do that trade for u while u get most of the profit. bilingual ability just gets u a job, but not unnecessarily get u richer. the free market in hong kong is the best place to trade with other people in hong kong, never any recessions or regulations. u dont even need to know chinese.

if u look from an immigrants perspective, they may not like the fact that the cahsee stops them from skipping what they need but in the long run it helps them. if they really want to learn they shouldnt give up, and learn what they need and then continue on with their harder courses instead of skipping parts and complaining that they didnt get it and didnt pass.

[SilentGriever]

Really, the CAHSEE isn't meant to be any sort of torture or anything like that. The exam itself is some of the most basic things that can be learned. Math, there should not be that much of an argument that you should at least know what you learn in 8th grade in order to move past high school. That is pretty much a given, since mathematics is the "universal language". More or less the same things, and, for the most part, and from what I understand, math classes do their job in teaching what "x" is, not being a letter; rather, it's a stand-in variable. So, one should know the basics of math before graduating.
Why?
Because if you graduate, you're going to work somewhere, and, since if you know the basic numbers you can pass the CAHSEE, you use those numbers in everyday American life (esp. if you live in CA; if not, then this debate is pretty much a moot point to argue, since it doesn't apply to you), so if you don't know your numbers, then it is only right that you stay in there.

Same with English. Yes, of course it is good that people know how to speak other languages than the said one, but it should be mandatory that the students know how to speak at least basic English, as is given in the CAHSEE. I mean, the things you have to do in those writings is not very difficult. And, yeah, you can kinda guess most of the test and still get a passing grade.

So… I’m lazy, so I’m going to stop there.