Nearly all U.S. states have set new standards for academic achievement in their schools. To help ensure that "no child is left behind," states now periodically test students to see if they meet these standards.

Most kids are not amused. What are today's kids expected to know? Get a hint by taking this sample of the Illinois State Board of Education's math test for 8th-graders.

--I'll reluctantly admit that I only got 8/10. Did I EVER know that shit?

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Posted by Lawren at July 19, 2004 09:36 PM

You Said

I got 10/10. I think it helps that I'm grading 11th grade standardized math exams this summer so it has freshened my math skills.

Says: Brian D. at July 19, 2004 10:14 PM

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I got 10! I'm glad those four years of college finally paid off. Where'w my prize?

Says: Grant at July 19, 2004 10:31 PM

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Well go ahead and rub it in! :)

Says: Lawren at July 19, 2004 10:32 PM

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I got 10 out of 10 also. I guess that means I'm qualified to get into 9th grade.

Says: Kevin the Interloper at July 20, 2004 09:06 AM

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I got only 8. One was a stupid mistake of forgetting to subtract in the last step. The other I was sure I had right and have no clue why it was wrong. Especially since the same formula worked for another of the questions. Oh well. I might have gotten them all back in 1975. Or not.

Says: Jay Solo at July 20, 2004 09:54 AM

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7/10, with two mistakes from not reading the problems carefully enough and one from being too casual about my multiplication (but hey, I still passed!...)

Says: LDH at July 20, 2004 11:11 AM

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I would just like to clarify that I'm not the Grant who posted above. If there's going to be another Grant commenting on this blog, then we'll have to arrange a system whereby people can distinguish between us.

Says: Grant at July 20, 2004 11:49 AM

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I got 7/10. Not reading the whole question was always one of my problems.

Says: mike at July 20, 2004 12:48 PM

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I knew that Mensa membership would come in handy.

Says: Norman at July 20, 2004 08:37 PM

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