The Testing

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What do the tests you’ve taken really reveal about you? Which kinds of tests are the most reliable and helpful? What harm can come from testing?

Teaching Suggestion: Students have encountered tests in varying formats, and they might have formed their own strong opinions about them. Perhaps they have heard of debates around testing. Offering a chance to share prior knowledge can increase engagement about the central focus of this novel: the testing of teenagers. You might begin with a brainstorming activity for students to list types of tests; then, after journaling or discussing their opinions, reading the two texts here might provide students with additional background. After investigating these or similar resources, students might pair up and share their thoughts about the short answer questions with one another and then share with others.

• This Pro/Con article from Encyclopedia Britannica addresses the argument surrounding standardized tests.
• This NPR article explores the decision to return to standardized testing in the middle of the pandemic.

Short Activity

What makes a good leader? As a group, list and rank the top five qualities of a good leader. Then, explain ways someone could demonstrate each trait.

Teaching Suggestion: The Testing is supposed to reveal who would be the best leaders, and candidates speculate about what qualities are valued. As you read the novel, you might return to these lists and reflect on how they connect to the tests Cia and the other candidates face. One way to approach this topic might be to read some or all of the article below and discuss how much students agree or disagree with the traits listed. Also, Malala Yousafzai’s speech offers a chance to analyze a young leader’s ideas. Students could identify places they see the leadership traits they listed in her speech.

• “Polling the People on the Qualities of a Good Leader” offers options to listen to or read an interview with various people about what traits they believe strong leaders share.
• “Malala Yousafzai 16th Birthday Speech at the United Nations” includes written and video formats.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Why is it crucial that we listen to the voices of youth? Free-write about the power of young voices, issues you care strongly about, and who listens to you (or who you wish would listen to you more). Add images or sketches to help show your feelings and ideas.

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt provides a chance to do exactly what it is asking about: listen to our youth. Students might benefit from brainstorming issues they care about as a class before writing. As you read The Testing, it might be beneficial to return to this idea and explore important ideas Cia and other candidates could offer and who is listening or not listening to them.

• This article (in written and audio formats) presents information about youth protests for climate change action.
• The UN Youth Advisory Group shows young people taking strong action at the level of the United Nations. This source provides an overview and introduces the members.

Differentiation Suggestion: Auditory learners might benefit from listening to the article instead of or in addition to reading it. Diverse learners might use sentence starters in their free-write. Another option would be to create an anchor chart as a class, listing important issues and strengths that young people offer.