Taking it to the Limit with The Testing

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau is a thrilling mash up of The Giver and The Hunger Games. For the first time, I decided that one book club meeting would not be enough to capture the fun and potential of this trilogy.  It was then that the idea of conducting my own "Testing" came to mind...

Welcome to the Testing Center.

“Every year the United Commonwealth reviews the achievements of the graduates in all 18 colonies. The top students from that pool of graduates are brought to Tosu City for Testing to attend the University.  Being chosen is an honor.  The graduates of the university are our great hope—the ones we are all counting on to help regenerate the earth and improve our quality of life.  They are future scientists, doctors, teachers, and government officials.

You have been chosen for the testing.

It is the highest honor a young person can receive. A select group of you will be selected to attend the University and learn to rebuild the world. From this group The government will chose it’s future leaders. Everything is part of the test. You are being watched at all times. Some of you won’t be able to take the pressure."

My name is Dr. Amy Hutto.  

"I speak for myself and my colleagues when I say we are honored to have you here. You are here because you are the best and the brightest.  On your shoulders rest the hopes of everyone in the Commonwealth.  Here among you are the future leaders of our country.  All leaders must be tested, which is the process you will begin today.”

"There is only one question you need to answer…

Who can you trust?"

Round 1

The Testing consists of 3 parts. Over the next few school days, you will sit for the written exam. This will consist of an exam of your general knowledge. After this test, 5 of you will be eliminated.

Kahoot General Knowledge Quiz ranked students on not only correct answers, but how quickly they answered them.

Round 2

Sixteen Testing candidates remain. Six will remain after the officials discuss performance in this group challenge.

One person in your group must be chosen to complete each of the following challenges.  In this phase, wrong answers are penalized. Raise your hand when you have finished the current test. You have five minutes to decide who will do what challenge.

1.       Jigsaw Puzzle

2.       Sudoku

Testing Official Dr. Smith looks on as Jesslyn tests on Sudoku

3.       20 push ups in a row

4.       Lego vehicle (Ingenuity and funcitionality)

5.       Science Test (Outer Space)

Round 3

Congratulations to all of you for making it to the third round of Testing. There were 21 candidates in this year’s Testing class. Six of you remain. Today will begin the longest phase of our Testing--the practical examination. University students are the future leaders of the United Commonwealth.  Because some of you in this room will soon be designated as among those leaders, we believe it is necessary for you to understand fully the challenges you will face.  You will travel to a non-revitalized part of the country and be placed in a designated starting location. When the Test begins, you must then find your way from that location back to Tosu City (SSHS Library).  Those who return will be given a passing grade and will qualify for the final evaluation period. That evaluation will determine the candidates who will attend the University.

All original candidates (the redirected helped in the final round)

"Each candidate will begin the test independent of each other.  That does not mean you have to remain alone.  You may chose to team up with other candidates. You may also choose to impair the progress of your fellow candidates in order to ensure that you obtain a passing grade before them.  What choices you make during the test will be considered in your final evaluations. Any candidate who leaves the Testing area at any time will be given a failing grade. Please do not make us enforce this rule.” (p. 134-135)

Finalist Tim flees an enemy

“Each testing candidate is allowed 2 minutes to select two additional items to help you successfully complete the test.  Names will be drawn to see who chooses first. Choose carefully.  Your choices mean the difference between success and failure.  Of course, I doubt you would have made it this far if you hadn’t figured this out.” (p. 137)

Junior, Beau P. takes first place (second from right)

Other Rules:

The candidates will be ranked in the order they arrive at Tosu City with their flags in tact.  (A Testing official will be recording this data.)

Flags must be clipped around the waist.  It cannot be tied or fastened where it cannot be pulled off.

STAY TUNED...

The next blog post will be written by a South Side student who will write based on her experiences in the final round of The Testing.

Until Next Time,
Amy Hutto, LMS
South Side High School

Works Cited:

Charbonneau, Joelle. The Testing. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Print.