Today at our PLC (Professional Learning Committee Meeting, the topic was cross grade exams. In our jurisdiction, government exams are held for English 10, Math 10, Science 10, Social Studies 11 and English 12. Students must pas the examinable courses to graduate, and English is hit twice. Four of the exams are worth 20%, but the English 12 exam is worth a whopping 40%. Don't misunderstand -- I mark government exams and get paid for it, and I have no problem with standardized testing. I just get a little testy when it is suggested that the 100 hours I spend with students is worth such a little bit more than a paper test that checks only some outcomes and takes a mere three hours to complete. So what does the English department do? We have cross grade exams for English 9 and 11, the only years where testing isn't required.
