Yet Another Test Every year, students count the tests that we are required to take throughout the year. These tests include: 4Sight testing in September, PSATs in October, ASVAB (optional) in November, 4Sight testing in December, PSSAs in February, PSSAs in March, and PSSAs in April-May. The 4Sight test is designed to see how students will score on other tests and what courses of study need to be focused on. The PSSAs are a state test given to all 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 11th graders throughout Pennsylvania. The scores of the students go into the following categories: below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced. PSATs are a practice test in order to gauge a bit more understanding for the SATs. The ASVAB test is an optional test that goes into deciding if you are qualified to enlist in the Armed Forces, as well as what military occupation you can pursue. The PSATs are required for every sophomore at Freedom and are open to juniors. The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to a junior who scores well enough on the test. Sophomores, though, can just count this test as experience and take it again in a year when it will count. But, perhaps a student is not planning on pursuing any type of college degree does not appreciate being required to take a test that will not improve their plans at all. PSSAs are a state-required test for students at different levels. At freedom, you are required to score at least Proficient in Math and Reading your junior year. If you do not, you are required to take a class your senior year focusing on the tests. You must then retest. But how can a test decide what is the most important thing you’ve learned? Teachers, though, are now focusing and building curriculum around this test. Their job seemed to have become to teach whatever the test says is important. On the 4Sight exams, students have realized the identical test is administered every year. Students do not feel motivated to take a recycled test again. Effort may be raised, however, if students were informed about how they did on the tests and be informed of what they missed. In order to get a better response from the students on taking these tests, we need to know what we gain from it. The PSATs are useful junior year to get a scholarship. The 4Sight seems to be the most unanticipated test, due do the lack of benefits of excelling on it. The PSSAs inspire us to do well because students do not want to give up time in their schedule for a class on this test their senior year. Although our school does not always have a choice about what test they give and how they administer it, it seems as though testing is increasing. Because of this, we must caution against teaching only to high-stakes tests; doing so will not help us in the long run.