As many of you know, Paint Branch has been through two rounds of the controversial PARCC test, a test that should have never reached this school.

Currently, 13 states and the District of Columbia are using the PARCC test. The test is taken on computers, which has led to a variety of problems from 12 of those 13 states, according to Washington Post writer Valerie Strauss’ article More than a dozen states report trouble with computerized Common Core tests. Strauss notes that many states have had to suffer through glitches and problems with the testing system, which have caused difficulties with administration of the test. However, technological glitches are not the only problem. Low-income school systems don’t always have enough funding for better computers, and must use cheaper and/or older computers in order to take the test. This has caused the test to crash on some older operating systems, as they might not be able to handle the test program.

Ultimately the technology problems with the test could lead to the test’s downfall, but technology isn’t the only issue. The process of taking the PARCC test is slow, tedious, and riddled with problems. If you ask anyone who took the test how the test or the experience was, they will most likely say something negative.

When I took the PARCC, I had to take the Algebra II test first and then the English PARCC test. There were two rounds of testing for both assessments, and neither went well.  When I took the English PARCC test, it took the testing staff about twenty minutes just to get me logged into the test. The second time I took the Algebra PARCC test it took testing staff twenty minutes to get the room logged into the test. This just is not efficient.

As for the actual test, it is very difficult. Many of the questions contained either topics I had not learned yet or confusing phrasing and instructions. This is also no efficient and, truthfully, punitive.