Standardized Testing

Luke Dzwonczyk

Ms. Oliver

World Literature Honors

24 April 2014

Standardized Testing

            A test that would define the rest of his life. That’s what he was up against. A physical and mental test deeming people worthy or unworthy to society, determining who has a successful life and who doesn’t.

                        The clock continued ticking, interrupting his intense concentration every second. 38:22, 38:23, 38:24, 38:25, it read, mocking him with every second that went by.

Although his clothes were finally dry from the exhausting swim he had previously finished, a puddle of water collected at his feet, sloshing around when he moved.

He was up against a written exam that would try his knowledge on anything he had ever learned, or hadn’t. Two trains each traveling at different speeds leave different stations at the same time traveling towards each other, when will they meet? He leafed through the exam, only five questions left. He must pass this test, no matter what it took. He had spent so much time getting ready for the test, doing anything he could to improve his chances of success. Everyone had to take it, and either pass or fail. Everyone, that is, besides the ones with money and power. The rich and famous managed to get around it somehow, paying off enough people to guarantee their kids pass on the test, usually without ever having to take it.

That’s what everyone called it, the test. He didn’t want to take the damn test. It was stupid. Everyone just went along with it, accepting a pass or fail without argument, it’s all anyone could remember, people had always been judged by their test results. You have to pass they told him, it’s the only way you can make something of your life. Bullshit.

            Although little was known about the test, there was enough floating around about it that he knew bits and pieces. He was up against someone else, and he had to win. That was it. Whatever was thrown at him, perform better, do it faster, test quickly, but make sure you do everything perfectly; no room for mistakes here. Who was he up against? No, better not to think about it, because when he beats them, they’re doomed to life of janitorial jobs and motel rooms. He kept working, racing through the test, fixed on finishing first.

            He finished the last question, some pointless math problem. Was it really necessary for him to know about the relationship between exterior and interior angles of a triangle? He knew it anyways. As he ran through the door he passed by the clock, 44:42. Not bad.

            The next room had a large, cylindrical platform in the middle, with a glowing, yellow ball on top of it. On the opposite wall a sign, reading “Touch the ball and pass”. Seemed easy enough. However, the platform was quite a few feet taller than him, which was really no fair; he had always been short his whole life. He jumped up, trying to reach an edge where he could grasp on to and pull himself up. Not a chance, he was still a foot away. He couldn’t climb up this thing either; it was way too thick to shimmy up. Well this was just plain stupid, unfair in every aspect. It was the same platform for everyone, and anyone who was tall enough could just easily pull themselves up. Everyone was given the exact same test, that was known. It was supposed to keep things fair, “standardized testing” they called it. But in the effort to make things fair, they had made it impossible for him to get up to the ball, impossible for him to pass. His shortness would be the end of him.

            Just as he accepted defeat, he heard the distinct noise of a door opening. To his right, another teenager entered; his best friend Simon. After a few confused exchanges of dialogue, it was clear that they were both supposed to be here. His friend had just finished his written test, and the door had led him right into this room. For some reason, the last, and most important, part of the test involved two people. This made no sense! How could he be forced to depend on someone else in one of the most critical moments of his life? But that’s when he remembered who he was with. Simon, his best friend since elementary school and lifelong pal. They would get through this together.

            And as his confidence surged he also realized that the test could have only one winner, him or Simon. After a glance at his friend, he new Simon understood this too.

            “We can only get that ball if one of us boosts the other up,” he told Simon. With a nod, Simon dropped a knee next to the platform, signaling him to jump on up. He placed his foot in his friend’s palm, and jumped up, scrambling up to the top of the platform. The shimmering ball was right in front of him. He reached out for it, but just as he was about to grasp it, he remembered Simon. If it weren’t for him, he never would have made it up here. He looked down at his friend, and they shared a look. Could they both win? The test was only supposed to have a single winner. Would he be disqualified if he helped his friend up too? If they both won? Was it worth it to risk so much on friendship? Yes, it was. Simon had always been there to help, and he wasn’t going to let down his friend now. Not now, not ever. He reached down to his friend, and pulled him up.

            “Thanks,” said Simon, a guy of few words. They reached out, placing their palms on the shining ball, together. A friend like Simon was worth risking the world for.

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Analysis:

            In the book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, camaraderie among the prisoners is a theme throughout the story. Tyurin, the leader of gang 104, is respected and well liked by his work gang because he is fair to them and treats them well. Shukhov even describes that your gang boss “[is] like a father to you” (81). When Der tries to get Tyurin in trouble for using roofing materials to block the windows, Gang 104 backs Tyurin up. “Der looked around. Pavlo was standing there with his shovel up…. And Senka, deaf as he was, saw what it was all about. And he came out with his hands on his hips” (81). Der tries to threaten Tyurin with another sentence, but is quickly scared off by Gang 104. Pavlo and Senka intimidate Der, trying to get him to leave Tyurin alone, and it works. Because the sense of camaraderie in the gang is so strong, especially towards Tyurin, they are willing to take a risk of getting in trouble in order to help out Tyurin. After a hard day of work, the gang returns to camp in large group. When they spot another group trying to get to camp first, the group of prisoners and guards suddenly become equals, racing together to the camp. “Even the guards were with them. They were all in it together” (101). Previously, the guards were enforcing the power they had, yelling at the prisoners to do certain things. However, both the prisoners and the guards want to get to the camp before the other group does, and this unites them. They suddenly become equals, all of them are just cold guys that want to get back to the warmth of camp. They truly “[are] all in it together,” because whether or not you are a prisoner or a guard, they are all getting to camp at the same time.

            My story, just like Solzhenitsyn’s, reflects the theme of camaraderie. The strong relationship between the main character and Simon shows the values of camaraderie. The main character has to make the decision of whether or not to bring Simon with him to the top of the platform. At first he is hesitant, unsure if the risking something so valuable to him is worth it. However, when he reflects on his friendship with Simon, he makes the right decision. The camaraderie that he feels towards Simon is enough for him to take the risk and return the favor to his friend. Ultimately, both him and Simon are able to win, proving that camaraderie triumphs over all.