Every year students in Spanish 3 are challenged with a difficult Middle Year Program test, testing their skills on another language in different sections.

There are four components of this test speaking, reading, visual, and writing. Each part of the test is spread out through the school year so students do not have to take it all in one day.

Students’ grades on the test are scaled since the test is so difficult and intensely graded. The test being scaled means that the grade the student gets on the test will be higher in the grade book because the test is so difficult.

“The test is challenging and a good measure where students are with the language,” Spanish teacher Sandy Rebello said. “The test shows students strengths, giving them a way to shine whether it’s on the visual part, reading part, writing part, or speaking.”

This test is not required for students who are not pursuing the International Baccalaureate track though it is a grade in the grade book. The test is required for students moving onto IB Spanish and in the IB program.

“It was, stressful and the fact that it’s scaled so your score in the grade book is better than your actual score is confusing,” sophomore Jenna Boyer said. “I don’t think we were really prepared for it either because we only had a few days’ notice for it.”

Teachers are not allowed to tell the students which subjects the test will cover. Teachers will only tell the students which chapters to study for the test.

“I don’t like the fact that we have to take a test because we already have PALS which assess our progress,” sophomore Simone Smith said. “Why do we need another test?”

Students have already completed a few components of the tests and have more to go as the fourth quarter moves forward.