by Claire Pritchard
Last week, juniors took a series of tests called SBA Testing, or Smarter Balance Assessments. These tests included Common Core-like questions on math and science.
The tests were created and administered as a trial run of the new Common Core standards.
Unlike previous assessments like the STAR tests, the SBA tests were taken on computers with more answer choices.
Some students, including Christine Le (’15), found this new format difficult.
“I just disliked how we couldn’t physically write down anything; instead we just relied on a mouse and a keyboard,” said Le. “It made me feel restricted because whenever I solve a problem, I like to break it down by underlining, working it out using different methods, and I couldn’t do that on the computer.”
The questions and answer choices themselves also proved difficult for students.
Le stated, “The math portion was difficult, but that could also be due to how the problems were phrased. I also had that problem with the English portion too. I thought the test questions for the English portion were very subjective.”
Although students may not have thoroughly enjoyed the SBA Tests, they were key in California’s shift to the new Common Core standards.
