This year, CAASPP testing has returned after the year of online school, and junior and senior students will have to undergo several hours of testing. The return of CAASPP testing is a nuisance and causes unnecessary stress for students and no one’s going to take it seriously.
Juniors will take the CAASPP, or California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, which tests students’ language arts and mathematics skills, primarily assessing students’ understanding of new state standards. Senior students will take the CAST, California Science Test, which will assess their knowledge and skills in physical, earth, and space sciences.
CAASPP and CAST testing holds less importance compared to other standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, which carry more significance in the college application process. Many colleges have already changed their standardized test scores requirements to test-optional or even test- blind. There is already less focus on submitting standardized test scores, so what’s the purpose of CAASPP testing? Colleges don’t even focus on students’ CAASPP scores, and there isn’t anywhere on the CommonApp or Coalition portals to submit these scores.
Almost all of the college decisions came out already, and many seniors already have schools that they are thinking about attending or already committed to. Taking the CAST test after all of the college decisions have been released doesn’t make sense. There won’t be motivation to do well when it won’t be beneficial to seniors who already know what their plans are after graduation.
Junior year is a very stressful time for students as many colleges pay close attention to grades and classes taken this year. Additionally, this is also the year where many are taking their hardest classes. With so much homework and tests from AP classes already, why should students endure through two hours of testing when they can put their time and effort into something more useful? CAASPP and CAST testing is taking time away from classes when teachers can be reviewing material for AP classes or final exams.
Although CAASPP testing may help evaluate if a student is prepared for college and beyond, isn’t the type of classes they take and the grades they earn in that class better indicators if they can handle harder classes in the future?
Charlize Tong, a junior at San Mateo High School shares her opinion on CAASPP testing,“I definitely think that it’s unnecessary and something that students, especially juniors and seniors, shouldn’t have to worry about as AP testing is coming up and finals season as well.”
CAASPP and CAST testing should be terminated altogether and more emphasis should be placed on helping students with their classes, especially difficult AP classes that require more time and effort. Students shouldn’t have to have any unneeded stress added to their already long list of worries.