High school students across the Commonwealth are still required to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, despite it no longer being necessary for graduation as of November 2024.
To many students, MCAS has been one of the more draining exams. Although passing MCAS is no longer part of the state’s competency determination for a diploma, students must still sit for the exam. The test is typically administered over two days, with two hours of testing each day.
In order to give the students ample time to finish the MCAS, testing has been early at the start of a school day. Students have voiced their disfavor for the test, and so now that it is no longer a requirement for earning a diploma, it’s important to understand what the MCAS test is bringing for students.
Students have expressed frustration over the continued requirement. “I never know what to study. We’re learning new things every day,” said sophomore Teagan Cavanaugh.
Though it’s no longer a competency determination, the feeling of not knowing what to do on some of the questions can be overwhelming.
Principal Elizabeth Wood of South Hadley High School said, “It is not a requirement in that you have to pass to graduate, but you still do have to sit for the exam. And then you have to meet competency in a different way that’s approved by our school committee.”
Some educators see value in the MCAS. “It’s important data. Future teachers can use it to look at specific students, and diplomas will have weight to them. It shows mastery in a class,” said Tara Cole, an English and special education teacher. She added that standardized testing can present challenges for students with intellectual disabilities but emphasized that all students deserve equal opportunities.
The test remains a requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act. The exam can also bring some potential benefits, such as the John and Abigail Adams scholarship, a merit-based program in Massachusetts that provides tuition credit based on MCAS scores and district ranking.
The next MCAS exams for high school sophomores take place in March and May, for ELA and math testing.
