The End Of Course Test (EOC) is a state-mandated assessment that was made to help teachers, students, and families know where students’ levels are in different core subjects. It is an online selected response test all public school students in Missouri must take. This will effect at least 10% of a students’ final grade.

Cameron High School Counselor Mr. Ed Green is Cameron’s district test coordinator. He is in charge of ordering the test, organizing and training the teachers, setting the calendar for when they will take the EOC, and much more. Very few resources are given to students to use on the EOC, only their brain power can help them out. He wants students to do well on the EOC, but knows that it can be stressful for them. “I hope it is a little stressful on students so that they will try, because it does go down as part of their permanent record (and effects their grade). But it is a test; different people address those differently. Hopefully the students have done well on their course work, which means the EOC should be good as well,” said Mr. Green.

Many students at CHS have taken the EOC before so they knew what to expect. Sophomore Kevin Thompson said, “The EOC can be tough, but it is over stuff we learned throughout the year. If you study and review what you learned it isn’t so bad. We did a review for the EOC in class that helped us prepare for it.” Kevin took the EOC in Geometry and didn't find it too hard. “It wasn't that bad. I like that it is multiple choice--it made it easier. I didn’t know everything on it though. Some of the stuff on there we haven’t learned yet.The only part I think it is stupid is that it effects our grade. It stresses me out even more knowing that it can bring my grade down,” added Kevin.

Some students weren’t as prepared, because they had never taken the EOC before. Freshmen McKenzie Patti said, “I wasn’t for sure what to expect at first, but our teachers reviewed with us and helped us so we would be ready. You don’t really know what is going to be on it. You just have to go back, study, and look at notes you’ve taken, chapters you’ve read, worksheets you did, and past test you have been given back. It is stressful, because you have to cram in a whole bunch of new information in just a few weeks. It is very overwhelming. The fact that it can effect my grade, even if it is just 10%, it is still a letter grade. It was kind of nerve-racking.” McKenzie was stressed during the test, but thinks she did great overall.

Even though students stress over the EOC, the majority of the students do well on it. All students at Cameron High worked hard and did their best on the EOC. Students will be proud to see the results of their hard work when test scores come in.