VOL. XXIV, NO. 6
MARCH 24, 1983
Students boast high scores in math test
Jim Grochocinski '85, Jenny Anda '83 and Paul Stanek '84 placed first, second and third in the math test held on March 1.
Jim scored 114 out of a possible 150 points. Jenny scored 84 and Paul a 83.
The math test is sponsored jointly by the Mathematics Association of America, the Society of Actuaries, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Casualty Actuarial Society.
"(The test) is strictly a means of fostering excellence in mathematics, hopefully it will develop an interest in the pursuit of the excellence of mathematics that a student can take through life," said Mr. Thomas Keane, manager of the math contest at West.
Students in all accelerated math, advanced math III, advanced math IV, and math IV classes were given the preliminary math test on February 16. The top 50 students were selected to take the national test on March 1.
Mr. Keane commented, "The school's composite score, the sum of the top three scores, is compared against the scores of schools in the entire state. . . In the years from 1970 to 1982, the years that I have managed the contest, we have always scored in the top ten percent of the schools in the state. And in many years, we were in the top five percent. I think this is significant in terms of the mathematics program here at Maine West. It is also
Jim scored 114 out of a possible 150 points. Jenny scored 84 and Paul a 83.
The math test is sponsored jointly by the Mathematics Association of America, the Society of Actuaries, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Casualty Actuarial Society.
"(The test) is strictly a means of fostering excellence in mathematics, hopefully it will develop an interest in the pursuit of the excellence of mathematics that a student can take through life," said Mr. Thomas Keane, manager of the math contest at West.
Students in all accelerated math, advanced math III, advanced math IV, and math IV classes were given the preliminary math test on February 16. The top 50 students were selected to take the national test on March 1.
Mr. Keane commented, "The school's composite score, the sum of the top three scores, is compared against the scores of schools in the entire state. . . In the years from 1970 to 1982, the years that I have managed the contest, we have always scored in the top ten percent of the schools in the state. And in many years, we were in the top five percent. I think this is significant in terms of the mathematics program here at Maine West. It is also
significant for the students, that they can compete against the best in the state and do so well. The real benefit is in showing that they have this potential. It is also carried on as part of the students' permanent record when he has qualified as one of the top three."
The school's composite score was 281. Mr. Keane said that a good score on this exam would be 60 or better.
"When you get up to grades of 80 or better, I think that you are doing very well on this test. Of course a grade of 114 is exceptional," commented Mr. Keane.
There are different exams given from year to year. "There is no accurate way of measuring the difficulty from one year to another until the results are out.
One year you might have had a high score of 95, which represented a truly excellent grade in comparison to other scores in the state, another year you might have had a high score of 110, which was a good score, but not an excellent score within the state. Again, it depends on the difficulty of the exam itself. We will not know the true complexion of this exam for several months," said Mr. Keane.
Mr. Keane concluded, "There is a high correlation. . . a large relationship between the students that have done well in these math contests and the choice of vocation that they have picked and its involvement with mathematics."
The school's composite score was 281. Mr. Keane said that a good score on this exam would be 60 or better.
"When you get up to grades of 80 or better, I think that you are doing very well on this test. Of course a grade of 114 is exceptional," commented Mr. Keane.
There are different exams given from year to year. "There is no accurate way of measuring the difficulty from one year to another until the results are out.
One year you might have had a high score of 95, which represented a truly excellent grade in comparison to other scores in the state, another year you might have had a high score of 110, which was a good score, but not an excellent score within the state. Again, it depends on the difficulty of the exam itself. We will not know the true complexion of this exam for several months," said Mr. Keane.
Mr. Keane concluded, "There is a high correlation. . . a large relationship between the students that have done well in these math contests and the choice of vocation that they have picked and its involvement with mathematics."
