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An Academic Rite of Passage
By Bridgette McCloud
PALATKA
-American culture seems obsessed with numeric measurement, and
SAT and ACT scores are no exception. These tests are arguably the
most important tests for American high school students, an academic
rite of passage that strongly influences future educational options.
Recent studies have shown that standardized tests are only a modest
predictor of future academic performance, particularly among students
with scores at the higher levels. A large percentage of students,
often with the help of their parents, are seeking help for the ACT
or SAT wherever they find it and at whatever cost they can afford.
- "I
took an ACT course at the University of Florida, costing my parents
about $200," said Stacey Gillison. Many of these programs
promise to increase student scores by at least 100 points.
- "I
used a tutor instead of using one of those programs," Jason
Burke said, adding that he was impressed with the improvement
of his scores.
- Some
students disagree with paying such high prices and have taken
alternative measures. "I just checked out ACT practice books
from the library, about six weeks before the scheduled tests,"
said Jennifer Douglas. She is totally against paying hundreds
of dollars for something that isn't guaranteed. Other students
agree.
- "Everybody
doesn't have enough money to pay for those expensive courses,
so they have to find other ways to prepare for their future,"
said Landon Styles.
- Standardized
tests preparation has become a big business, earning hundreds
of millions of dollars a year.
- "I
took an ACT course at the University of Florida, costing my parents
about $200," said Stacey Gillison. Many of these programs
promise to increase student scores by at least 100 points.
- "I
used a tutor instead of using one of those programs," Jason
Burke said, adding that he was impressed with the improvement
of his scores.
- Some
students disagree with paying such high prices and have taken
alternative measures. "I just checked out ACT practice books
from the library, about six weeks before the scheduled tests,"
said Jennifer Douglas. She is totally against paying hundreds
of dollars for something that isn't guaranteed. Other students
agree.
- "Everybody
doesn't have enough money to pay for those expensive courses,
so they have to find other ways to prepare for their future,"
said Landon Styles.
- Standardized
tests preparation has become a big business, earning hundreds
of millions of dollars a year.
- "I
took an ACT course at the University of Florida, costing my parents
about $200," said Stacey Gillison. Many of these programs
promise to increase student scores by at least 100 points.
- "I
used a tutor instead of using one of those programs," Jason
Burke said, adding that he was impressed with the improvement
of his scores.
- Some
students disagree with paying such high prices and have taken
alternative measures. "I just checked out ACT practice books
from the library, about six weeks before the scheduled tests,"
said Jennifer Douglas. She is totally against paying hundreds
of dollars for something that isn't guaranteed. Other students
agree.
- "Everybody
doesn't have enough money to pay for those expensive courses,
so they have to find other ways to prepare for their future,"
said Landon Styles.
- Standardized
tests preparation has become a big business, earning hundreds
of millions of dollars a year.
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