Test to be redesigned, state spokesman says

Students got confused and overlooked an essay question.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A section of the state's graduation test that included an essay question some students overlooked will be redesigned to prevent confusion, an Ohio Department of Education spokesman said.
A blank page in the answer booklet that separated multiple choice questions from a second essay question on the writing section of the test confused some students, the department said Wednesday.
The state received complaints from 113 school districts, but students will not get a second chance to write the essay, education department spokesman J.C. Benton said. Students who fail can retake that section of the test when it is administered again.
Beginning with the class of 2007, high school students must pass all five portions of the exam -- writing, reading, math, social studies and science -- to graduate. Students who fail sections of the test as sophomores have six more opportunities to pass.
No going back
The education department ruled against allowing students to revisit the essay because the same percentage of students who left the second essay blank didn't answer the first essay question, Benton said.
A similar percentage also didn't write the essays the three times the test was administered in 2005. Benton said he couldn't explain why districts complained this year but not last year.
Students answered one essay question, then a series of multiple choice and short-answer questions before encountering a page that said "this page was intentionally left blank."
A second essay question -- worth 18 of the test's 48 total points -- came after the blank page, which was meant to provide space to compose a draft.
The test's booklet, as well as instructions that proctors read to students, said the exam had two essay questions.
In the redesigned test, the page in the answer booklet will read, "Turn page to continue to prompt 2." The test booklet will say, "Turn page to continue the test."
In some districts, students who said they had missed the second essay question were allowed to finish it. Benton said the state is investigating and will void responses for students let back in to the test.
Principal upset
Dave Stewart, principal at Hilliard Darby High School in suburban Columbus, said he was upset that students missed the question.
"We have to ask ourselves, what was the purpose of the test? The purpose was to assess the kids' writing," he said. "It didn't do that. The best thing is to [let students] take a second look at it, but that's not going to happen."