Hi! I’ve been on this forum many times before, but only made an account today.
I did the Barron’s diagnostic test. The prompt is: “In your view, should classes be organized by putting students of similar ability levels in the same classes?”
While some people believe that placing students with similar academic abilities in the same classes will help students advance further and reduce stress in students who are less focused on school, it is actually detrimental because students have different strengths. Thus, unfairly grouping students will take away valuable learning opportunities away from both types of students and create unnecessary pressure for students to be deemed “advanced” by others.
First, placing students in classes with the same academic abilities is unfair to the students. For the students that are labeled as “less advanced”, academic will always be less rigorous. They will have no opportunity to challenge themselves and reach their full potential. For example, Einstein’s teacher said that he will never amount to anything. If he was put into a less advanced class, he would have lost confidence and hope in his abilities. As a result, our world’s technological development will be hindered by many years, and we may never understand the relationship between mass and energy – E = mc^2. Not only is grouping students unfair to less academically inclined students, it is also detrimental to those who are driven. Perhaps they will be able to learn a more advanced curriculum, but they will not have the opportunity to learn from their peers with other strengths. In my classroom, my peers include national math champions, active volunteers, and talented actresses. I have learned something valuable from all of them. If you take away those who are not as advanced academically, I would have never learned the importance of giving back to my community, appreciating the arts, or pursuing my passion.
Moreover, grouping students according to academic achievement will add to the pressure faced by students today. Even without the separation of students, teenagers today are stressed because they have way too many commitments. If classes are separated, then those in less advanced classes will be labeled as incapable and discriminated against. Society’s definition of success will not be based on which university you went to, or where you work. Instead, it will begin in high school, with which level of classes you are in. That will further the economic disparity we have today because students from less wealthy backgrounds have less resources for the students early in life. Wealthier students will have access to tutor, textbooks, etc. Our society already had enough obstacles for the disadvantaged to overcome. Let’s not add another barrier to their achieving success and equality.
To conclude, it is detrimental for schools to group students in classes based on their academic level. It is common knowledge that academics is not related to success, so it is unnecessary to take away the interaction between a diversified group of students and create even more pressure for the students of our generation. Do we really need to compromise student’s other important qualities in order to foster brighter students?
I think I developed a perma-cringe from rereading my essay, and who knew I would need a billion other ways to say “academically advanced”. This was my first ACT test. I appreciate any feedback!
So for ACT essays, we don’t need examples from literature or history at all? How can I have enough support for my arguments? Btw, I appreciate the time you’re taking to edit people’s essays.