\doc\web\99\17\waslsamp.txt I finally found where I found those WASL test questions. Somewhere OSPI linked me to NAEP. Those questions were NAEP questions and can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ITMRLS/ITMRLS.HTM Date sent: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 17:02:42 -0800 From: shirley #nospam To: "Basarab, Shirley" Subject: WASL SAMPLE I went to the following site and found WASL sample tests. I randomly clicked and copied several questions. Now I wish I'd copied the whole thing. I returned there the following day and the "link" had been changed to the "bird feeder" sample. AHU: Interesting, I was more concerned about the fact that most of these are straightforward applications of concepts normally introced or specifed in the EALR at 4 or more grade levels ahead. But perhaps you're right about the affective aspects, I thought it was nowhere near as blatant as the disasterous CLAS tests that California threw out after only 2 years. The 4th grade problems here are beyond G4, but the alleged G10 problems can be solved by G6/7 level percentage and 4 function calculator math. This is what I found: 4th GRADE 7. Ms. Hernandez formed teams of 8 students each from the 34 students in her class. She formed as many teams as possible, and the students left over were substitutes. How many students were substitutes? Answer:____________________ (NOTE: THE TEACHER IS A POLITICALLY CORRECT MINORITY MS., AND THE TEAMWORK CONCEPT IS REINFORCED.) AHU: This _sounds_ like a division with remainder problem, but it's pretty hard to figure out that's what they want from the wording. Most kids aren't taught how you'd divide up a class into 8 teams and then create substitutes. It's much more difficult that "what's the remainder if you divide 34 by 8". This is probably one reason why Asian kids in Beacon hill got excellent basic skills tests but were baffled by the WASL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. There are 3 fifth graders and 2 sixth graders on the swim team. Everyone's name is put in a hat and the captain is chosen by picking one name. What are the chances that the captain will be a fifth grader? A) l out of 5 B) l out of 3 C) 3 out of 5 D) 2 out of 3 (NOTE: LEADERSHIP IS DETERMINED BY RANDOM CHOICE, NOT THE BEST SWIMMER NOR AUTHORITY-DETERMINED.) AHU: Computing an theoretical probability as a ratio is specified at 7th grade in the EALRs and test specification. The answer is 3 fifth graders out of a total pool 3 + 2 = 5 possibilities. (3). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12th GRADE YOU WILL NEED A CALCULATOR FOR THIS SECTION. REMEMBER: You will have to decide whether to use the calculator. For some questions using the calculator is helpful, maybe even necessary, but for other questions the calculator may not be helpful. After each question indicate whether you used the calculator. (NOTE: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED, [E.G., PRESS ON/CE] BUT I COULD NOT COPY IT.) If necessary, you can refer to the QUICK REFERENCE CARD on the lid of your calculator for more information on using the calculator. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. This question refers to (shapes) N, P, and Q. In Mr. Bell's classes, the students voted for their favorite shape for a symbol. Here are the results. Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Shape N 9 14 11 Shape P 1 9 17 Shape Q 22 7 2 Using the information in the chart, Mr. Bell must select one of the shapes to be the symbol. Which one should he select and why? The shape Mr. Bell should select:____________________ Explain:__________________________________________ Did you use the calculator on this question?__________ (NOTE: THERE IS NO "CORRECT" ANSWER ON WHICH TO "MEASURE" THE RESULTS.) AHU: Looks like you're supposed to tally the votes, again, this is a process that's not obvious from the statement of the problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Which of the following pieces of information would NOT be useful in deciding what type of car is the most economical to drive? A) Median income of drivers B) Range of insurance costs C) Average miles per gallon D) Typical cost of repairs per year E) Cost of routine maintenance AHU: All very well and fine, but this is not really a math question in terms of what you need to do in computation. Another "problem solving" skill that won't help you in college chemistry. Technically, this skill is specified at the 4th grade. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (NOTE: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DISCOURAGE TEEN AGERS FROM "OWNING" THEIR OWN PROPERTY AND SUPPORTS "LEASING" BIG-TICKET ITEMS, WHICH NEVER RESULT IN OWNERSHIP. THEY ALL LEAVE THE IMPRESSION IT IS "CHEAPER" TO LEASE THAN TO OWN.) AHU: This is an example of jr. high school level percent math on a 10th grade test. When leasing a new car, the amount to be financed is the amount left when the down payment and residual value are subtracted from the selling price. (The residual value is the value of the car at the end of the lease period.) The residual value for a two-year-old car, whose original selling price was $18,700, is estimated to be 53 percent of the selling price. If the amount of the down payment is $1,500, what is the number of dollars to be financed for a two-year lease? Show the work that led to your answer._________________ Did you use the calculator on this question? (NOTE THIS REDEFINES THE TERM "LEASE." IT ASSUMES YOU "FINANCE" A "LEASE," NOT "LEASE" A CAR OR "FINANCE" IT TO OWN IT. To be financially correct, the question directions should read: [1]"If the amount of the down payment is $1,500, what is the number of dollars ON WHICH THE LEASE PAYMENTS ARE DETERMINED for A two-year lease? $18,700-((.53*$18,700)+$1,500)=$9,911 OR [2] "The amount to be financed is the RESIDUAL amount left AFTER the down payment and DEPRECIATED value are subtracted from the selling price." $18,700-(((1.00-.53)*$18,700)+$1,500) = $10,289 However, no definition is made for "depreciated value.") ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions 6-7 refer to the following information. Mary is interested in leasing or buying a particular car model. She has determined that the cost of leasing this car for 4 years is 0.78p + 450, where p is the selling price. Mary has also determined that the cost of buying this car, including finance charges, is 1.2p + 80. At the end of 4 years, when the car is paid off, it can be sold for 0.4p. (NOTE: IT DOESN'T SAY "80" AND "450" WHAT. (I ASSUME IT IS DOLLARS, SINCE P IS DERIVED FROM DOLLARS AND YOU CAN ONLY ADD DOLLARS TO DOLLARS.) 6. Mary decided to buy the car at a selling price of $20,000. She kept the car for 4 years and then sold the car to recover some of the costs. If Mary had decided to lease the same car for 4 years, what amount of money would she have saved? Show the work that led to your answer. Did you use the calculator on this question? (NOTE: EVEN IF THE STUDENT IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ANSWER, IT LEADS HIM TO BELIEVE THAT LEASING "SAVES" MONEY OVER BUYING. HIDDEN IS THAT THE CAR IS PAID FOR IN FOUR YEARS, AND THE $8,000 VALUE IS HERS. IT IMPLIES THAT SHE MUST SELL THE CAR TO "RECOVER" COSTS.) BUY: $20,000x1.2+80=$24,080 RESIDUAL VALUE AFTER PAID FOR: (.4x$20,000)=$8,000 LEASE: $20,000x.78+450=$16,050 DIFFERENCE: $24,080-($16,050+($20,000x.4=$8,000)))=$30 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. For the particular car model that Mary is interested in, determine the selling price for which the car costs the same to buy and resell at the end of 4 years as it costs to lease the car for 4 years. Show the work that led to your answer. ________________________ Did you use the calculator on this question?________________ (NOTE: NOT MENTIONED IS THAT AT THE END OF A LEASE, SHE MUST STILL CONTINUE TO LEASE; AT THE END OF FOUR YEARS OF PAYMENTS, SHE NO LONGER HAS TO PAY. IF THE STUDENT IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ANSWER, IT FURTHER REINFORCES THAT LEASING SAVES MONEY OVER BUYING. IT DOESN'T PROJECT BEYOND FOUR YEARS, WHEN THE CAR IS PAID FOR. IF THE STUDENT CAN DETERMINE THE ANSWER, IT STILL LEAVES THE IMPRESSION THAT IT'S CHEAPER TO LEASE.) 1.2X+80=.4X .8X+80=.78+450 .02X+80=450 .02X=370x50 X=$18,500 ------------------------------------------------------------- AHU: This is another straightforward divide this by that, 5th grade level problem at G10. 7. The population of the United States is approximately 250 million, and the national debt is approximately 4 trillion dollars. If this debt were divided equally among the population, what would be the debt, in dollars, per person? A) 16 B) 1,600 C) 16,000 D) 1,600,000 E) 16,000,000 Did you use the calculator on this question?_____________________ (NOTE: THIS REINFORCES THAT EACH MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD OWES $16,000 ON THE NATIONAL DEBT, THAT MUST BE PAID. NOT MENTIONED IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEED ONLY START PRINTING ITS OWN MONEY (RATHER THAN PAYING THE PRIVATELY-HELD FEDERAL RESERVE BANK TO DO SO), AND THE DEBT WOULD DISAPPEAR. ALSO NOT MENTIONED IS THAT IT COULD BE ELIMINATED BY POSITIVELY BALANCING THE BUDGET OR USING THE TRILLIONS IN "INVESTMENT" FUNDS.) -------------------------------------------------------------