Passing the Standardized Writing Test by Overcoming My Past Writing Experiences
I’m sitting in the testing center at the college. I know that if I fail again, I will not be able to take an English class next year when I am a fully dual enrolled junior. Being fully dual enrolled at Florida Southwestern College is a big goal of mine and I do not plan on letting a standardized writing test keep me from it.
The first time I took the test at the testing center I failed. The worst part was that I failed by only one point. If I were to just read all the answers on just one more question, then I could have already guaranteed a spot in an English class at the college, but now I can’t. This puts extra pressure on the second attempt, and I am supposed to be a good writer.
The only reason I am “supposed” to be a good writer was because Mrs. Wheat loved my stories and essays. Mrs. Wheat, my fourth and fifth grade teacher, always said,” I am looking forward to reading you work, Cameron.” And when she returned my work I would always get a, “Great work Cameron! Keep it up and you can go places with your talent!” The funny thing about that is that I was a really bad writer in middle school. I always thought my work was good but with comments like, “You need more detail,” and “I can help you after class if you want it.” I was discouraged, especially because I always took pride in my work. It kept going downhill after 6th grade but took a turn for the better in 10th grade. My 10th grade teacher gave me A’s on all my essays all year long. I was so prepared for PERT that I didn’t bother studying.
There are three parts to the PERT, reading, math, and writing. I passed reading and math with flying colors. Writing as you know is a different story, but I am now prepared to take on round two of this treacherous test as I sit in front of the computer waiting for the instructor to start my test. She takes her time not thinking anything different, just adding another student to a test. Not the same case for me, the minute and a half she takes to give me my test brings back my entire past of writing. I am supposed to be on an uphill slope with my skills according to my 10th grade English teacher. If this were a graph that means that I should pass this test with a high grade, but there is a lot at stake and I do not do well with pressure.
I finish the test with a very high passing score. I still cannot figure out what I was doing wrong in middle school and on my first attempt of the test, but I am glad that it’s in the past. I’m glad I didn’t let my past writing experiences get in my head throughout the test and I continue to be the pride-filled good writer that I am “supposed” to be.
