Colleges’ test-optional policies lack benefits to applicants
May 3, 2020
As News broke that many colleges are becoming test optional. While many students are celebrating the change, arguing that it will relieve pressure and increase their chances of getting into their dream schools, others are less enthusiastic. These test-optional policies will ultimately work agai...
Colleges become test-optional, relieving students of excess stress
Rebecca Kanfer '21, Paper Sports Editor
April 20, 2020
As the 2020 college admissions year comes to a close, aspiring juniors look onward to their upcoming year of the Common Application and the College Board with one noticeable change. Standardized test scores have become unnecessary and furthermore optional with an application for numerous schools due...
BMS offers drive-through COVID-19 testing
Annabelle Iannone, Web News Editor
April 13, 2020
Bedford Middle School (BMS) offered Coronavirus (COVID-19) tests on April 7 to Westport and Weston residents, following the first round of testing on March 31. “I think it’s great that we have testing available for our town,” Hamza Islam ’20 said. “But if we don’t make testing available...
ACT individual section retakes allow students to improve test scores
Tierney Kugel '22, Paper Arts Editor
October 23, 2019
Many high schoolers know the feeling of suffering through a long ACT test session, only to find out weeks later that they scored lower than expected. American College Testing, or the “ACT” is a three hour long test, consisting of four seprate sections, each focusing on a specific subject or skill ...
ACT test change allows students to retake individual exam sections
Emily Stone '20, Business Manager
October 12, 2019
The ACT announced Tuesday that students will be allowed to retake individual sections of the exam starting Sept. 2020. According to USA Today News, for a fee, students will be able to retake specific subjects where they did poorly. In the past, students would have to reregister, repay, and retake...
AAPPL testing should not be mandated
Holden Cohen '20, Staff Writer
May 1, 2019
This year, all language courses were required to give students the Assessment of Performance Towards Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), which evaluates understanding of languages based upon listening, speaking, reading and writing. The culmination of the test results in a seal of biliteracy should a st...
The PSAT is important
October 23, 2017
By Isabella Bullock '19 The PSAT is known to help prepare students for the SAT, and all high school students who are looking to improve their scores should take it. It’s main purpose is to give students an idea of what their test scores will be like, with minimum to no studying, so that student...
Solving the Inconsistency and Confusion that Final Exams Bring to AP Classes
May 17, 2017
Ben Pearl ’18 Advanced Placement exams officially ended on Friday, May 12. Accordingly, I thought it would be appropriate to offer a solution to the problem students and teachers face every spring: when to schedule an AP class final exam. The Numbers: According to the Staples H...
In defense of midterms after break
January 4, 2017
Margot Mather '17 You hear midterm stress before you see it. The tapping of nervous feet, the violent scribbling of trig identities and derivatives and occasional sniffles as tears well up around the eyes. While many students advocate to push these midterms before break in order to enjoy their...
Juniors to take SAT in school, without optional essay
Sophie Call, Staff Writer
February 9, 2016
On March 2, juniors will sit down and take the SAT as their standardized test graduation requirement. However, if they’re planning on applying to a number of colleges, this SAT sitting won’t be valid. The new SAT functions much like the ACT always has –– a set of required sections, with ...
Clear up the testing confusion
April 7, 2015
SBAC is a test. It’s taken on the computer, and it’s for juniors. But what else do we know about it? Students know more about quantum mechanics, William Shakespeare’s personal life and the culture of Burma than they know about the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. No one is giving us straig...
Class of 2016 gets thrown an academic curveball
Jack Zeldes, Staff Writer
April 6, 2015
I was fine with being in the Class of 2016 when we had to take CAPT. I didn’t mind being in the Class of 2016 when we had to write our research papers sophomore year. I was even fine with being in the Class of 2016 when we were only given one morning to sleep in instead of the customary two weeks. Then...
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Claire Redmer '21, Editor-in-Chief
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued an executive order closing public schools on March 15, beginning an unprecedented time of completely online schooling. While this se...
Restaurants open socially distanced seating areas for Westporters
June 4, 2020
Reopening school in fall risky, should not be done
June 3, 2020
Reopening economy will save more lives than national lockdown
June 3, 2020
Connecticut reopening brings both worry and excitement
May 28, 2020
Lamont announces barbershops, hair salons delayed until June
May 28, 2020
