As a student in Florida, we are required to take this test called the FCAT from 3-12th grade. In all grades, we take a Reading FCAT and a Math FCAT. In 4th, 8th, and 12th grade we take the Writing FCAT too! In 5th, 8th, and 11th grade we take the Scient FCAT. It’s just a test with a bunch of multiple choice questions, and some written responses. Well, what good does it do?

The FCAT makes teachers teach towards to FCAT, I hear time and time again our teacher saying “We’re teaching this not for fun but for the FCAT”. Our textbooks must be made to “FCAT standards.” One of my teacher says “We definitely teach to the FCAT, but I can’t do anything.” Teachers and schools get graded by how well their students do on this test. They get their funding from the FCAT. That’s why they really teach the FCAT so hard.Well, so what does teaching to the FCAT do? FCAT tests basic subjects, and I mean REAAAAAAAALLLLLYYY basic. So even though you’re in advanced placement classes (like I am) we still GET TAUGHT THE BASIC OF PROBLEMS! So what does this cause?

You know why Florida has one of the poorest education in the nation? FCAT! It does nothing to help the students, but hurt. You can fail a grade just because of failing the FCAT! Sure you get straight A’s all year, but oops you got a 2 or 3 on the FCAT (FCAT math reading and science is graded on a scale of 1-5 where 1 is bad and 5 is good and 3 is just passing as FCAT writing is graded on a scale of 1-6 where 1 is bad 6 is good and 3.5 is just passing) YOU FAILED THE GRADE! What does this do? All it does is weed out the bad students and fail them.

FCAT doesn’t make you learn more. We are taught how to choose the right answer on the FCAT by using the process of elimination and guessing (WHICH DOESN’T GRADE OUR KNOWLEDGE BUT GUESSING POWERS!) A kid can be the brightest of bright, but have test anxiety, and fail. Yup fail. A dumb kid can be the dimmest of the dim and pass with the best grade. Why? GUESSING!

Yes, the FCAT truly sucks.