ACT Test & "no snacks"...are they serious?

[punkin]

No, I was joking in my respone about "Snowflakey" to OP. The "wittle, speshul snackies" was meant for you.

I'm sorry you felt the need to get nasty so early in the morning. Maybe you'll feel better later in the day.

 

[agnes!]

I still think 5 hours is a long time especially when you're taking a multi-hour test. Yeah, sure, she sometimes doesn't have time for lunch at school so she goes for a while without eating, and yeah sure she's sometimes had (very) late lunch even in elementary school (gasp) and yeah sure it won't kill her, but I *still* think it's stupid to possibly *make* the test-takers go for 5 hours without food. It might be some kind of "ok", but that doesn't mean that it is optimal.

And yes, back in the day I remember we all walked two miles-uphill in the snow to get to and from school in the winter . Barefoot.

agnes!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I'm sorry you felt the need to get nasty so early in the morning. Maybe you'll feel better later in the day.

You started with the "Didn't you get your child's manual?". If you can dish it out........ Have a magical day.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

These are juniors, right? They should be able to survive a few hours without food.

 

[rgf207]

When I took my SAT I was there from 8 - 1. No food or drink allowed... I lived.

 

[allison443]

You started with the "Didn't you get your child's manual?". If you can dish it out........ Have a magical day.

Do you guys need a snack???

 

[aprilgail2]

I dont think going 5 hours without food is even any type of issue. I got to high school at 7am and home at 2pm and didn't have a lunch break at all during the day (my choice I wanted to get out in 3 years rather than 4) and it really was not an issue at all. I ate when I got home. 5 hours is no big deal- even the grade school kids go that long, my 10 year old daughter eats breakfast at 7 and lunch at 12:30- I don't see why this would even be an issue unless there was some medical reason the child needed to eat more frequently.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sorry, but I do see this as an issue...

I see absolutely NO reason that an academic test should become a test of physical endurance. (except for somebody elses convenience and control issues)

1. Many kids simply can not really manage to eat first thing in the morning
(choking down maybe half a bowl of cereal (sugar and carbs) early in the morning would leave me shaking and catatonic by 11:00 am)
2. For those who do not have good blood sugar control, any blood sugar issues whatsoever, this IS an issue.
3. Sure, most any kid WILL survive... But, I thought this was about maximum academic performance, not 'survival'.

 

[ladycollector]

Yes worrying about your child's hunger is part of being a parent, but I would imagine a High School student can get through a few HOURS without his/her "wittle, speshul snackies".

um, in my case, it was not about "wittle speshul snackies", but about staying conscious! I feel for your kid if you ever have a child that is hypoglycemic.

Not to mentioned you usually end up eating an hour before the test even starts + 5 hours... Yeah I def would be passing out at that point.

 

[ladycollector]

3. Sure, most any kid WILL survive... But, I thought this was about maximum academic performance, not 'survival'.

Exactly. If they provided snacks and charged you for them that would be fine too. But there should be an option.

 

[Buckalew11]

First of all, Puppyman is the cutest, isn't he? Aww...I'm a sucker for puppies.

Second, I find it amazing how a thread like this can get so sarcastic/rude/weird. "Wittle speshul snackies"???

OP, I hope your daughter is having a good morning taking her test. (And the others on here too!)

I signed DD up for the writing part just for the experience. Probably won't again. The school she is interested in most is big on writing but I don't think it is as big a deal as one would think from the ACTs.
My nephew scored a 34 on the ACT and scored very low on the writing part because he just didn't care. I think he scored like a 4 once and an 8. He said he didn't even write about the topic given. (rolls eyes) He's not normally like this but for some reason, the writng part of this test just was something he blew off. He got into a great college anyway and starts in the Fall. So, I doubt we'll bother with the writing part again.

 

[daisyduck123]

Well DD15 is at the local community college taking it write now (writing portion included)....I sent her with lots of ones & change as a previous poster suggested. Thanks!

 

[crusoe2]

Another teacher here. I usually either administer or proctor our high school grad exam a couple times a year and we have the same rules about absolutely no food or drink while taking the test. I thought that was pretty extreme too - there are no time limits and some kids take all day to finish. I found out that the reason is pretty simple - the tests are scored by a machine and if a student gets even a tiny sticky or wet spot on their answer document, it may not feed thru correctly. This could ruin the test score for that student. I would imagine the ACT tests are scored the same way so that may explain the no food or drink deal. Not optimal for something that is so important to the kid's future. But understandable.

 

[Wishing on a star]

we have the same rules about absolutely no food or drink while taking the test. I thought that was pretty extreme too - there are no time limits and some kids take all day to finish. I found out that the reason is pretty simple - the tests are scored by a machine and if a student gets even a tiny sticky or wet spot on their answer document, it may not feed thru correctly.

I don't find that to be any valid excuse...
I don't find it 'understandable' at all to have kids going most of a whole day without feeding their bodies.

There could easily be a short lunch/snack break.

I don't think anyone expects to have the kids sitting there, actually taking the test with Cheetos at their desk. (Ewww!!! that powder!!!)

It boils down to the convenience/control issues of the test administrators.
No doubt about it. None at all. No question.

Funny, at school when the state achievement test are given, where the school actually has a vested interest in the outcome of the test scores... Our schools plan breaks and strongly encourage parents to send healthy snacks to school with their kids on test days. I'll bet some of the better, more well meaning, teachers have even brought in muffins, apples, etc.

 

[crusoe2]

I don't find that to be any valid excuse...
I don't find it 'understandable' at all to have kids going most of a whole day without feeding their bodies.

There could easily be a short lunch/snack break.

I don't think anyone expects to have the kids sitting there, actually taking the test with Cheetos at their desk. (Ewww!!! that powder!!!)

It boils down to the convenience/control issues of the test administrators.
No doubt about it. None at all. No question.

Funny, at school when the state achievement test are given, where the school actually has a vested interest in the outcome of the test scores... Our schools plan breaks and strongly encourage parents to send healthy snacks to school with their kids on test days. I'll bet some of the better, more well meaning, teachers have even brought in muffins, apples, etc.

The test administrators aren't the ones who made that rule - it is mandated by the state. Has nothing whatsoever to do with what we think is "convenient" or what we feel that we can control. As a matter of fact, the test administrators don't get to eat or drink anything either. And before the state passed this rule, I was one of the those teachers who brought in both food and a cooler of bottled water for the students testing in my room - all paid for out of my own pocket.

For what it's worth, I don't like the policy either. I don't think it's optimal to make the kids go for that long with nothing but a brief bathroom break and a sip or two from the water fountain in the hall every 90 minutes when there is so much riding on their test performance. But it would be a shame for a student to fail the test because a bit of food residue caused their answer document to read incorrectly.

No matter - it isn't my call. I have to go by the state regs. If I don't, not only do I risk having a student from my test group fail due to the food residue issue, I could get caught red-handed. Reps from the state can walk in and monitor us at any time, with no warning. So, no, this most definitely is not just about "the convenience/control issues of the test administrators."

 

[ctinct]

Sorry, but I do see this as an issue...

3. Sure, most any kid WILL survive... But, I thought this was about maximum academic performance, not 'survival'.

Great point! My daughter took the ACT this morning, and although writing was her best score on the PSAT and SAT, she does not feel she did as well on the writing (last) portion of the ACT because she was tired and hungry...and her butt was sore from sitting. Seriously, I think being in a school classroom for 7 hours is far easier on the kids than taking these tests for 5 hours. The ACT and SATs are pretty much sitting and working your brain, but during the school day kids pass between classes, have a chance to chat, go to the bathroom, etc. I think the ACT kids got one 15 min. break after the second portion of the test and a five minute break before the writing portion.

The English section of the test is 75 questions in 45 minutes, math is 60 questions in 60 min., reading is 40 questions in 35 min., science is 40 questions in 35 min., and the writing I "think" is 30 min. for one essay. Seems pretty intense; my brain would be fried after that. I'm sure the kids could have used a snack mid-test, but her location did not have vending machines and they were not even allowed to have water with them. I understand why they can't eat while taking the test, but not sure why they could not change the rules to allow food to be eaten between sections.

 

[jme829]

LOL....dd17 is on her way home right now from taking the test...That is what she was complaining about too...She stayed to take the writing portion (she is going to be an English Ed major, so figure it wouldn't hurt).

I'm waiting for her to get home to see if she is starving and has to pee..lol

 

[jme829]

Hey Sparx, I was hoping you'd check in.

About how long it should take...

The Admission Ticket says:
*To report at 8am
*Dismissal about 12:15 for ACT (No Writing)
1:00 for ACT PLUS Writing

That's why I'm thinking it takes 5 hours...

agnes!

Yup...thats what dd's was today (she took the writing).

 

[erincon23]

Our HS district administers the test during a school day (actually, juniors have a four-day week of testing with early dismissal, and do all the IL required stuff the same week). They start each day with a free high-protein breakfast for all the kids, then a brisk walk to wake them up, and then do the test. I like this -- not only because we don't have to pay for the ACT, but it makes sure that all the juniors take it and not just the college-bound (and those flaky ones who never tell their parents, or the ones who have flaky parents who don't remember to sign their kids up for the tests...). DS is hypoglycemic, but I don't remember this being an issue, since they all had a good (if not fantastic-tasting lol) breakfast ahead of time.

 

[jme829]

As a matter of fact, the test administrators don't get to eat or drink anything either. And before the state passed this rule, I was one of the those teachers who brought in both food and a cooler of bottled water for the students testing in my room - all paid for out of my own pocket.



"

Hmmm interesting..DD JUST got home and said that the adminstrators were eating, drinking and texting during the test. SHe took hers at UWRF (a local college in the Univ of Wisc system.

But while I personally think that the kids will ""survive" without a snack .......most "good" diet/nutrition programs out there even suggest eating every 3-4 hours (meal, light snack, meal, light snack ,meal, light snack - or 6 mini meals.) whether you are trying to eat better for weight loss or just for general health reasons. It helps keep you from being hungry constantly, and helps keep your blood sugar regulated (whether you are diabetic or not).


My daughter was up at 6, ate breakfast, left at 7 and got home at 1:15 so she went closer to 7 hours without eating anything. If she has to re-take it, I will definitely have her throw a protein bar or something in her purse to eat during a potty break.