My 4th grader is scheduled to take the online Social Studies test this year, being administered by Pearson. There is a sample test for 4th graders to take, to get adjusted to the format and style of question. It is a dry run this year so no jobs on the line this time.
I tried it myself, and I think the entire 4th grade will fail if the real test is like that. It is poorly written, using vocabulary most 4th graders will have no clue about ("opportunity cost," "economic incentive" are examples). It requires a level of inference and logic that would challenge most high schoolers and perhaps college students.
And the kicker is that the local temp agency hires test evaluators from ads on craigslist. You don't have to be a credentialed professional to grade these, just a college grad without a job willing to work for $11/hr. How rigorous is that?
