A child’s school lies at the center of their life, second only to family as the place where they grow, learn, play and make friends. We’ve taken a look back at some of the events and stories from Beijing’s international schools during 2018.

The educational year began, of course, with the Jingkids International School Expo 2018 (JISE 2018). (Learn more about the 2019 event here.) Among the hot topics under discussion was the shortage of graduates in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math):

Shortage of STEM Graduates “a Crisis in Education,” Says Speaker at Beijing International School Expo 2018

In May, artist William Boyd, an old Harrovian, visited Harrow Beijing to talk about his creative work and collaborations:

June 2018 School News: BSB, Shunyi Collaborates with MIT, DCB’s “Sounds of Spring,” and More!

Our most-read education story of 2018 concerned the financial crisis at Beijing BISS International School (BISS). We’re happy to report that the school was saved and is returning to normality.

“No Soap, No Pencils”: Former BISS Teachers Describe Life at Crisis-Hit School

August was an important month for the British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB Sanlitun), as they opened their state-of-the-art new Early Years building, the Li Building:

Space to Grow: BSB Sanlitun’s New Early Years Building Has the School’s Values Built In

And the new school year rang in the changes for several schools, with new principals or co-principals at BSB Sanlitun, 3E International School, the International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB), and Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing).

September 2018 School News: New Leaders, New Facilities

In September our columnist Hamilton Gregg reported on the chaos surrounding the SAT and ACT, tests used by US colleges to make decisions on admission. (Note: although these acronyms originally stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test and American College Testing, they now officially don’t stand for anything.)

Old College Try: More Testing Chaos

Amid a competitive academic environment which can be stressful for young people, the city’s international schools are leading the way in highlighting the importance of the mental and emotional health of their students. Harrow Beijing held a “Well-Being Week” from October 29 to November 2, sharing a theme with World Mental Health Day 2019: “Youth in a Changing World.”

December 2018 School News: Well-Being and Sports in Focus!

And the year ended on a high for Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), with both schools shortlisted in two categories at the prestigious International School Awards:

Beijing Schools Shortlisted for Prestigious Awards

Photo: coventrytelegraph.net

From the last time I wrote about standardized testing more has transpired. Both SAT and ACT have had more issues.

Let’s start with SAT. After the report that the August test had been compromised scores have been released. There seems to be an inordinate number of students with whom I am associated one way or another who scored very well on the test.  I raised the issue of the testing situation with some university representatives a week or so ago and the question was raised whether schools would be skeptical of the scores students received.  While not entirely skeptical, the reps did say they would take the overall situation into account when considering scores from the August test.

Further along those lines, not everyone who took the test has received their scores. Placing them in no man’s land wondering if their scores will be released or cancelled.  So once again, students are paying the price for an issue caused by College Board.

At the beginning of last week, in Florida, a student filed a Class Action suit against College Board and ETS (the test administrators). The interesting thing is that the lawsuit claims, “Rather than accept the responsibility and acknowledge its errors, the College Board, and by association, ETS, appear to blame students for their failure to keep the exam secure.”* Which is interesting that both organizations responsible for the test are blaming students for recycled test questions. More on the lawsuit can be found in this article from the Washington Post, and the quote is from the piece by Valerie Strauss.

What is also quite interesting is that College Board and ETS are very aware of how test prep companies get ahold of the material and yet are blaming students for what students do for any test – prepare. And when the stakes are high, they will go where they think they can get the best advice or information.

Now on to the ACT fiasco. This last Saturday was the first ACT online test. Held around the world schools were frantically working with their in school Technical staff to get the platform up and running. Lest one think that this all went smoothly, it did not. Aside from technical glitches that forced students to be unable to complete one section of the test and move on to the next section and losing time trying to sort it out, students had their registrations cancelled. One of the functions –the Pause button, that would allow students to pause the test if there was a technical issue during the test, had been disabled for all international test centers. No test administrator had been forewarned and when calling the help line, some administrators were told to unplug the computer.

Schools that offered the ACT were sent this:

“Important message from ACT: As you know, ACT conducted its first two days of computer-based testing at our international ACT test centers this weekend. The large majority of international examinees were able to successfully complete their ACT test and appreciated the new format. Some international test centers, however, did experience technical and administration issues that unfortunately prevented some students from completing their test. ACT takes these issues very seriously, and we sincerely apologize to those students impacted by them. We understand the importance of ACT scores to students, and we are diligently working to determine the best options for affected students. These options may include retesting, arranged testing, and rescheduling to a future test date. We will be working individually with each impacted student in the coming week to determine which option best meets their needs. Thank you.”

At the heart of all this is the anxiety that students feel in what is already an insane process. They go forward wondering if they will be able to take a test, whether the test conditions will allow them to finish, whether their scores will be released or the test cancelled. As mentioned previously the students are the victims here. I do not think that the SAT event was one of cheating, as in previous occurrences. The August mess is on College Board. ACT, well, one might forgive an inaugural event, but really! Sort the issues out the Spring before, not the first test of the testing season.

I feel for the students, but I also place a bulk of the blame on universities and colleges, which still require standardized testing. Yes, I know there are some schools that have to use scores, but in reality they are quite few in comparison.

Calling all colleges and universities – It’s time to stop subjecting students to this chaos!

Photo: ivywise.com

In the last couple of days, testing agencies have come under the microscope. Both College Board (CB) and ACT are creating a bit of havoc with students, counselors, and universities.

Last Saturday was the first SAT test of the year, but not internationally. CB last year started to reduce the number of tests internationally but opened August in the US. The pressure on seniors to get testing completed before the beginning of the application season made the US a potential testing destination for Chinese and other international students who could afford the time and the money to test abroad. There is also the rumor, and certainly just a rumor, that certain test dates are easier than others. While there is no substantiated information to correlate this, the rumor still exists.

Back to the topic. Apparently, the test last Saturday was the same or had a number of the same, questions as the October 2017 international test. Almost as soon as the test was completed outcries of cheating spread through social media and the Internet. “It’s unfair,” “some students had an unfair advantage,” and more have come from a number of corners. CB, on the other hand, said little until Monday. Always keeping “test security” as their ace in the hand, CB had little to say other than scores will be released as usual.

What is so odd about this event is that CB is the one responsible for the use of the test. It should be hardly surprising to them that international students can and will take any test possible. From their own data, they should know that students traveled to the US last August. Also, they should know from past experience that their data – test questions are available through a variety of means. They should also know that whole tests are available, for the right price, to anyone willing to pay. This has been a point of contention for the last decade. Are students to blame? Not so sure.

And finally, the CB should know that recycling test questions is something that drives everyone nuts. Many critics of the SAT cannot understand why the CB insists on recycling test questions. The CB maintains that in order to have concordance between tests and to have viable scores, there need to be base questions to substantiate and validate each test. For some, that falls on deaf ears.

What is hard to understand is that the CB will not cancel the test from last Saturday? Are they worried about lost income? Saving face? Hard to tell, but what it has done is once again put the SAT in the crosshairs of universities. Anyone following the news over the last couple of months will notice that a number of schools have changed their testing requirements – either dropping the Writing section of the test or going completely test optional for students. The CB has put another nail in their own coffin.

ACT, on the other hand, is in the process of putting their test online. Yesterday one school spent over 4-hours and still could not sort out the process of getting their school up and running as a secure test site. The ACT has provided little if any information to high schools about the new testing procedures, the requirements of what it takes to be a test center and most concerning, the availability of the Act for this year’s seniors.

One would think that testing companies would be open and forthcoming to seek the guidance and assistance of its stakeholders – schools and colleges. Yet, they continue to hide behind “test security” as the primary and sole response. In the end, it leaves seniors concerned, anxious and rightly so. Testing is a center and focal point for many students looking to apply to college. They are the guinea pigs and subject to an unending series of abuse, misdirection, and confusion.

I am all for test security. It is important. But when will everyone wake up to the fact that this machine is broken. Colleges and Universities should be screaming from the rooftops! Students should also voice their opinions about the lack of validity of testing. While I am for test security, I no longer believe and have for some time, that standardized testing cannot measure up to what a student does every day in school. There must be a better way. Hopefully, if enough voices are raised, more schools will go test optional. For a list of all the schools which are test optional go to Fairtest.org. Students should be careful and check each school’s policies on test-optional qualifications.

Photo: www.insidehighered.com

Students in the Junior year are taking on the monumental task of being a Junior. With the month of May just at the onset, exams of all sorts are starting to take place. There is no doubt that students at this stage of high school are confronted with an enormous set of tasks. “There’s too much to do!” and “How do I prioritize?” and “How do I manage?” are all questions running through students’ heads. So what’s the big deal? Lots!

The Junior year is the linchpin to college applications. This is, for many students, the last set of grades many colleges will see when making decisions on applications, particularly if a student is applying under any Early scheme of admissions. While it is impossible to significantly raise one’s GPA, students can set a mark by showing the stuff they are made of this last term of the year.

“Why can’t I raise my GPA?” Well for one thing if you been in a school for the two or three previous years, a student (under a semester system) would have 5 semesters of GPA calculations weighing against one (if said student entered the school in Grade 9). A student who started in Grade 10, would have three semesters, but even still turning one’s intellectual jets on this last term can only marginally impact GPA. This is not to say that a student should throw in the towel. Absolutely, put the nose to the grindstone and nail those final exams. Lots of schools look to see improvement over time, maturity in taking school seriously and focus, even if it comes late in one’s high school career.

May is the month when not only final semester exams loom but also AP or AS Level exams start. Depending on what curricula a student is taking these exams are where a student shows the culmination of their work over the semester. However, students need to be aware that results on an AP or AS exam do not get calculated into GPA (some schools may do this but…), nor do they replace a poor grade in that class. (If that is the case, universities will wonder why you did so well on the exam, but what were you doing during class?).

These exams are important and a student should definitely focus on doing well. Managing one’s time, keeping organized and focusing on each exam is an important and sometimes daunting task. It is important to wisely spend one’s time going to review sessions with teachers, utilizing study groups, and ensuring competence in the subject areas you will be examined on. Never assume you know what you think you know. Double check, triple check and nail those exams!

May is also a time for SAT exams, another marker for university applications. For students who have been preparing since the October PSAT and a winter SAT (December or January) it is possible that this could be your final SAT, maybe. Depends on how you do, of course. Your college counselor should be able to let you know if you have one more test in your system, once results come back in a couple of weeks. However, it should be noted that most students do have one more test in them. This one is for the October SAT. (A reminder, a student should NEVER take more than 3 SAT I exams.) If you are an ACT student, the advice above also applies.

Hopefully, you are not in the situation where you have not taken an SAT yet. But if you are, it’s ok. This is an important SAT and it means that you have a fair amount riding on this test. Why is it an issue? Well for starters, this is going to be your baseline test. There is no other evidence to stand on to see where your scores will go, especially if you have not taken a PSAT or PLAN (the equivalent for the ACT). By just having this test, it challenges your college advisor to help with your list of schools.

If you are the unfortunate student who did not get the news that there is no longer any SAT I in June for International students, well ouch. If you have no previous tests under your belt, and are thinking of applying Early to a college, you now only have one chance (October) to perform well on the SAT. That is a very tough place to be. “But, my mock SAT/ACT tests show…” Mock tests are not the same. The materials are different, the setting is different, and the whole situation is completely different than taking the real deal. Most students outperform on practice tests. This is not evidence enough to rely on heavily, if at all.

June is a great time to take SAT II, but only if schools on your list require, recommend or state they are optional. There is no need to take an SAT II if you don’t meet the conditions above. By the way, performance on an SAT II definitely does not cover a poor grade. How could an hour-long exam equal a grade earned over a year?

Finally, as a Junior you need to be focusing on building your college list, starting your application essays – Common Application released the new Personal Statement essays last month. At very least, students should be brainstorming ideas on what they will write about.

So, yes, Junior year is a mass of things to get done. Don’t make the mistake of focusing on one item at a time. Divide your day up in to hours and tasks. Do a little bit of everything, every day.

As we enter this important season, work well, keep organized and with both of these things as a focus, you should be in great shape for summer!