> testing situation? There must be something I'm not understanding here.
Let me see if I can do a better job this time. One of the College Board's
guiding principles is that test takers should experience roughly the same
environment, hear the same scripts, and generally take tests under the
same conditions as all other test takers.
Now, the College Board also tries to accommodate students with certain
disabilities, but the goal is still to minimize the differences in
test-taking conditions as much as possible. Because of certain types
of writing disabilities, some kids are approved to use a computer in the
essay parts of some standardized tests.
So how do you allow a student to use a computer in a way that simulates
normal handwriting as much as possible? Well, normal handwriting does not
allow you to magically cut a passage and instantly paste it to a different
part of the document. So the College Board does not allow a computer user
to use the cut-and-paste feature of word processors.
Now, if you are saying this policy is stupid, you can take that up with
the College Board. My own feeling is until *all* students take these tests
using a computer, the policy is reasonable.
Ross Lenet
AP Coordinator
Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC
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