The Skunk River Review - DMACC

Rebekah Schnackel Persuasive Essay
First Place – College Preparatory Writing
Why Competency Tests
In high schools nationwide, students take tests in individual classes to identify what
essential skills they have mastered and what areas they still desperately need to improve in
before these students move on to bigger and better things, such as higher education at a
community college or at a university. When it comes to developing and putting into effect a
universal policy having one set of standardized tests as a graduation requirement, however, many
would disagree. Thus, the question is asked, “Should all high schools have to take and pass a set of
standardized tests as a requirement for graduation?” Yes, competency tests should be taken in
order to graduate from high school so that students can recognize and improve their skills to able
to succeed in their college education, in their chosen careers, and finally in their personal lives.
To begin with, high schools should have these competency tests so that students can
recognize and improve their basic skills in order to continue their studies beyond high school. The
tests and areas that it would cover would include reading, writing, math, social studies, and
science. Evaluating those areas would allow not only the students but also the teachers to realize
if the students themselves are learning and if the teachers are preparing the students for their
futures.
Basically, what this means is that these essential skills are needed in every aspect of living
a normal life. Then if these tests do not become mandatory for graduation, students would not
have the knowledge of which of their skills are weak and which are strong. Without knowing this
information, students would suffer a major amount of stress and frustration if they were to pass on
from high school to college. Moreover, having set standards that students must meet in
competency tests to be permitted to graduate is a positive because it will demonstrate if they are
ready for college-level courses or not. Recognizing and improving their skills means they will
know if they should move on to college.
One factor as to why high schools should have these competency tests relates to
demonstrating whether the students will have the talent to succeed in college. A student who has
not obtained the knowledge and basic skills needed before enrolling in college-level courses has
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