Are you smarter than an 8th grader? 1931 version - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

StanT · 12-08-2010, 11:15 AM

Found on the internet, a copy of a 1931 West Virginia state 8th grade exam.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...on/v/tests.pdf

Excluding the West Virginia specific stuff, could you pass? What does that say about current vs former education.

While I could ace the math, penmanship would average that out. I'd probably be lucky to get a C, a D wouldn't surprise me.

snowy · 12-08-2010, 11:29 AM

Looking through it, yes, I could pass. I probably could have passed that exam in 5th grade without trouble, comparing the exam questions to what I was taught in school. In 8th grade, I was doing algebra, not arithmetic.

Wes Mantooth · 12-08-2010, 11:41 AM

LOL at question 3 under geography it reads a little...North Korea-ish

A couple of things that really stand out to me are there is no cuddling involved, no BS multiple choice and insultingly easy question that I remember from school. It seems you were expected to know your shit and you were going to prove it or fail, we need a little more of that these days. On the other hand it how long would it would take weeks to finish and exam like this...I lost count how many questions demanded at least a page to answer a single question. Damn.

Going in cold I could probably manage maybe a C at best, I haven't encountered or thought about some of this stuff in years...so I'm a little rusty. If I could bone up before hand I think I'd do alright.

StanT · 12-08-2010, 11:46 AM

I'm much the same with the math. I have no idea why I remember the conversion from rods to acres when I can't remember what I had for breakfast.

I'm impressed with the civics and history questions. I have an interest in both and could get by; but those aren't trivial questions.

I'm an avid reader; but I'd fail the reading portion. I recognize most of the material as classic; but I've never read the majority. I'd struggle with English, as well. Perhaps I used to know the material; but I probably forgot it the day after I was tested.

Wes Mantooth · 12-08-2010, 12:19 PM

Yeah I was reading some of the questions and thinking "Wait...I know this, gimmie a minute."

None of the question really sound trivial to be honest and it seems like they weren't so much teaching an overview of the material as I was accustomed to but rather making sure students really understood and had a much deeper grasp of the material. I guess it makes sense though, I could be a little off on my timeline but even in 1931 a good deal of students probably never went any further then the 8th grade (especially in rural areas) and that education had to serve them the rest of their lives. We in the modern world have the benefits of another 4 years of high school and in most cases at least 4 years of college, I guess we have the luxury of spreading out the learnin' a bit more.

mixedmedia · 12-08-2010, 12:21 PM

There's a lot of material there that I wouldn't know, but I like to think I could pull a C out of it considering how much of it is essay questions. I love essay questions.

That is a pretty intense exam, though, I know full grown adults who balk at tests with a quarter of that much material. Even with study guides to handhold them through the thing. pfft.

One thing is for sure, somewhere along the line we have forgotten that education is not just a means to an end. It should be challenging. It should be work. It should be its own reward. blah, blah, blah. But it's true. And the consequences can be seen all around us.

yournamehere · 12-11-2010, 04:06 PM

At first glance it's somewhat intimidating, but when you think about it; if they ask it on a comprehensive test, they must have taught it at some point during the school year. So one can only assume that it's a fair test, and most students probably managed a C (average) or better.

Without cell phones and iPods to distract them, and no TV or video games to compete with homework, I'm sure most students handled it well enough.

12-08-2010, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
StanT © Location: Colorado	Are you smarter than an 8th grader? 1931 version Found on the internet, a copy of a 1931 West Virginia state 8th grade exam. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...on/v/tests.pdf Excluding the West Virginia specific stuff, could you pass? What does that say about current vs former education. While I could ace the math, penmanship would average that out. I'd probably be lucky to get a C, a D wouldn't surprise me.

12-08-2010, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Looking through it, yes, I could pass. I probably could have passed that exam in 5th grade without trouble, comparing the exam questions to what I was taught in school. In 8th grade, I was doing algebra, not arithmetic. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

12-08-2010, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wes Mantooth Junkie Location: Tennessee	LOL at question 3 under geography it reads a little...North Korea-ish A couple of things that really stand out to me are there is no cuddling involved, no BS multiple choice and insultingly easy question that I remember from school. It seems you were expected to know your shit and you were going to prove it or fail, we need a little more of that these days. On the other hand it how long would it would take weeks to finish and exam like this...I lost count how many questions demanded at least a page to answer a single question. Damn. Going in cold I could probably manage maybe a C at best, I haven't encountered or thought about some of this stuff in years...so I'm a little rusty. If I could bone up before hand I think I'd do alright. __________________ “My god I must have missed it...its hell down here!”

12-08-2010, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wes Mantooth Junkie Location: Tennessee	Yeah I was reading some of the questions and thinking "Wait...I know this, gimmie a minute." None of the question really sound trivial to be honest and it seems like they weren't so much teaching an overview of the material as I was accustomed to but rather making sure students really understood and had a much deeper grasp of the material. I guess it makes sense though, I could be a little off on my timeline but even in 1931 a good deal of students probably never went any further then the 8th grade (especially in rural areas) and that education had to serve them the rest of their lives. We in the modern world have the benefits of another 4 years of high school and in most cases at least 4 years of college, I guess we have the luxury of spreading out the learnin' a bit more. __________________ “My god I must have missed it...its hell down here!”

12-08-2010, 12:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	There's a lot of material there that I wouldn't know, but I like to think I could pull a C out of it considering how much of it is essay questions. I love essay questions. That is a pretty intense exam, though, I know full grown adults who balk at tests with a quarter of that much material. Even with study guides to handhold them through the thing. pfft. One thing is for sure, somewhere along the line we have forgotten that education is not just a means to an end. It should be challenging. It should be work. It should be its own reward. blah, blah, blah. But it's true. And the consequences can be seen all around us. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

12-08-2010, 11:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
StanT © Location: Colorado	I'm much the same with the math. I have no idea why I remember the conversion from rods to acres when I can't remember what I had for breakfast. I'm impressed with the civics and history questions. I have an interest in both and could get by; but those aren't trivial questions. I'm an avid reader; but I'd fail the reading portion. I recognize most of the material as classic; but I've never read the majority. I'd struggle with English, as well. Perhaps I used to know the material; but I probably forgot it the day after I was tested.

12-11-2010, 04:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	At first glance it's somewhat intimidating, but when you think about it; if they ask it on a comprehensive test, they must have taught it at some point during the school year. So one can only assume that it's a fair test, and most students probably managed a C (average) or better. Without cell phones and iPods to distract them, and no TV or video games to compete with homework, I'm sure most students handled it well enough. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.