The STAAR a series of state mandated standardized tests used in Texas public schools. Texas requires high school students to take 4 of theses assessments: Biology, English 1, English 2, and US History.

Teachers and parents work hard all year preparing students. Some students risk failing the test because they let the stress get to them. Students need not stress over a standardized test, but focus more on their school work and classes. Standardized testing only takes into account a student’s performance on one particular day, and disregards all external factors.

“I am always nervous and I never want to fail,” freshmen Haleigh Hurst said.

Standardized testing causes some teachers to primarily teach what the test covers, although the structure and the time constraints help teachers plan out what and when to teach their students certain elements of the subject matter.

“I think the STAAR test is a bit redundant because teachers teach to the test and don’t teach other important things students need to know, and I think it is unfair to teach to the test instead of teaching to each student’s needs,” Hurst said.

Tests need to emphasize a student’s improvement throughout the year. Many argue that evaluating student growth over time proves much more beneficial than over a single test performance. Stress and tension fills the classroom on testing day and ends up feeling like an inappropriate place to take a test that puts so much pressure on the students.

“I feel like we shouldn’t spend the whole year preparing for one test, and that we should actually learn things that we will carry with us throughout college and life in general,” sophomore Nathan Martin said.

Students prepare for the STAAR by studying and learning in school, but it remains difficult to remember everything from August all the way up to the date of the test. Students often try inefficient ways to study by cramming the night before the test.

“I honestly don’t think I’m prepared because it’s kind of hard to remember everything from August to whenever we take it,” junior Alejandra Ruiz said.

Seniors advise underclassmen on what to expect and how to prepare for the test, warning students of the hardest test. Their advice eases the mind of many students and takes some of the pressure off of them.

“Just practice your weakest subjects a lot and don’t stress,” senior Morgan Lamance said.