Revere High School (RHS) students are preparing to start taking state and graduation required end of course (EOC) exams.
There are certain requirements that students need in order to graduate. One of the requirements is for some students to score a certain amount of points on the required classes’ EOC exam. There are seals for English, math, science and history. In order to graduate students must pass the Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, Government and English 10 (ELA II) EOC’s to get their seals. It is also required by the state of Ohio in order to graduate. RHS principal Doug Faris explained the requirements needed when participating in this test.
“[For] English ten and the algebra one, a student has to score 684 or above, and they have to do that on both tests. And if they do that, then they achieve what’s called competency in English and math,” Faris said.
Faris said that the seals need to be fulfilled to graduate. He said that there are many different ways to do that, and explained some of the requirements needed.
“If you get a three or above on the biology test, you get a science seal. You need two seals to graduate. And if you get a three or above on government and history, then you get a citizenship seal,” Faris said.
Faris said that a student could pass a certain class but fail to earn the required score. In that case he said that there are many different opportunities throughout the year for when students can retest so students do not have to wait an entire year to retake the test.
“If you pass the class, you can still move on . . . but we do have the opportunity then to take the test again and then as long as you pass it, then you’re good to go,” Faris said.
Algebra I teacher, Brain Racin said that select subjects on the EOC tests can go for multiple days.
“When you do algebra I, it’s actually done over two days. Even the history test has two portions, but the kids go through that much quicker. we try to slow them down with the math one by doing it over a two day period instead of a one [day period],” Racin said.
The test has some helpful tools students can use during the test so they do not feel too overwhelmed. These tools include a zoom in and out button, a highlighter and a flag and/or bookmark to indicate that the student should go back to the specific problem. For the Algebra I and geometry tests the students get a sheet full of formulas that they have learned throughout the year.
“They get a reference sheet actually. . . . The reference sheet is always on their iPad [and they can access it] at any point in time they want,” Racin said.
English 10 teacher Meghan Lovaty said that the students take the ELA II test over the course of two days. She said that one test has a nonfiction reading portion.
“You’re answering multiple choice questions over the nonfiction pieces, and then you’re also writing an argumentative essay, whether you’re picking a side,” Lovaty said.
Lovaty likes to give her students an analogy to get them prepared for the test. Not only does it get them prepared but it also gives the students confidence because they have gone through all of the information they needed in order to do well on the test.
”I always tell them that it’s like training for a marathon. We’re going to read and write all year so that by the time you get to the ELA II test, it’s really, really easy” Lovaty said.
Racin said that he does not teach his class just for this test. He teaches this class to get them ready for higher level math. He also said that every once in a while he shows his students how specific questions will show up on the test.
”My goal is more to teach what they need for geometry and what they need for algebra II, to get more towards the ACT/SAT questions. But as we’re instructing the material, we like to then go back and say, ‘Here’s how the state test would ask that same question,’ because they are very reading-heavy,” Racin said.
Lovaty prepares for this test by showing them the passages and writing prompts from years prior. She then has her students answer the writing prompt as if they are actually taking the test. She said that they can be found at the EOC’s official website.
“You do have to dig through their website a little bit, but they do provide them,” Lovaty said.
Racin said that like the ACT and SAT, the EOC also has experimental questions, though it is a little different. The EOC releases certain questions that were asked in prior tests and students can answer those questions and get scored for them as well.
”I went in and I set up rosters and then what I can do is I can administer those to the students and they can actually take a smaller version and actually get scored,” Racin said.
Most of the students are set to take the test in either the main gym or auxiliary gym. Faris said that students that require accommodations are accounted for and are accommodated to in many ways.
“For students who might have accommodations, maybe they get extended time or a small group, then we have rooms throughout the building where they take the tests,” Faris said.