End of Course Tests

This year Freshmen and Sophomores will be taking QUALITY CORE tests at the end of Algebra I and English 10.

WHAT COURSES?

Algebra I
English 10

How does QUALITY CORE correlate with the ACT?

View or download the PDF: http://www.act.org/qualitycore/pdf/QC_and_CRS_Summary.pdf

View a sample student report: http://www.act.org/qualitycore/pdf/IndividualScoreReport.pdf

How to interpret a student report: http://www.act.org/qualitycore/pdf/QCGuideStudentFamily.pdf


WHEN?
April, 2014

WHERE?
The test will either be administered whole group in the gymnasium

HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE USED?
This year, student test scores will not impact their grades. Their scores will help direct instructional practices and remediation. Placement in remedial classes next year may be influenced by these scores.

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS STUDY?
Next year the End of Course Test will be given to Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Their score will likely count as 20% of their grade. If students succeed on the tests this year, they will feel more confident about passing the QUALITY CORE next year.

TIPS ON STUDYING
This test will not soley cover the Alabama Course of Study Standards. The "Mathematics" portion of the test doesn't test how well you know the Algebra or Geometry standards, but how well you can problem solve USING those standards.

Step One: KNOW THE STANDARDS
Whatever standards you cover that year, keep your notes and look over them frequently.

If there is something you still don't feel confident with, ask you teacher for help or do independent research to catch up.

Step Two: PRACTICE CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
The ACT, PLAN, and QUALITY CORE assessments want to assess how well you can reason and think.

Can you look at evidence and use it to draw logical conclusions?

This is NOT a test to assess intelligence. Practice thinking outside the box, thinking critically about problems, and looking deeply at evidence to support your findings. Debates, research papers, and independent studies are good ways to strengthen this skill.