CTE testing has officially begun here at Verrado High. With April being the month of all things testing. Students who made the decision to take another year of a CTE class have been piling into the gym early in the morning this week to test their knowledge
CTE also known as Career and Technical Education is a set of courses that many high schools have implemented into their class options. Verrado offers many courses for students to explore and even spark a lifelong interest in.
Many of these classes surround technology as a possible future career path for students to invest in. Graphic design, film and media, engineering, computer science, and photography are some of the more technology-based CTE classes. There are also classes that focus more on arts and performing arts. Fundamentals of art, stagecraft, performance theater, and AP art are also available for students to attend.
While not every CTE class had to do mandatory testing, students in their second year of taking their chosen class were expected to finish all 100 questions at their own pace. Many of these classes had just recently competed in multiple SkillsUSA competitions. 2nd years of Stagecraft and Film and TV all competed with other schools in the district showcasing their skills. With Stagecrew making it to state, and Film getting gold in two different competitions.
Now that the SkillsUSA competition has wrapped up for many CTE classes, testing has begun. Stagecraft two students were recently required to test their knowledge on the many terms and techniques they’ve learned throughout the past two years. Students were given a study guide of over 100 vocabulary words to study a few weeks before they were to be tested. Aspects such as makeup techniques, lighting, theater terms, and stage directions were all included.
Many students were quite worried about these tests. End-of-year testing is stressful for anyone, especially with many juniors taking the ACT, and other grade levels inching closer and closer to their class finals. However, students taking CTE classes were very concerned with how long these tests are. It’s no wonder many students were a bit shaken up with how much material they had to study and try to retain.
Aria Anderson, a Stagecraft two student, was also a bit scared of the outcome of this test. She states, “CTE testing was a bit stressful and intimidating because of how everything was set up, but honestly it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.”
She then added It went by pretty quickly, and I would say that if you study and understand the class you are in, the test will be a breeze. Anyone that is nervous about taking a CTE class because of the test, really shouldn’t worry too much.“
Rei Cassidy also recently took “My experience with the CTE test was neutral. The test was on things that I already knew from my film and TV program, along with some other questions challenging my knowledge about lighting, crew jobs, etc. It was a very long test but I think it was made to better reflect the students’ knowledge of their CTE program. For me, it highlighted my strengths within my CTE program and knowledge while also showing me my weaknesses and areas I can improve on.”
Testing can be stressful for everyone, but with the right preparation and focus, it can be done with ease. CTE classes provide students with very important knowledge that can help them in the long run, and even determine their career path.
