By Gina Buccino
Enquirer contributor

LEBANON - Lebanon High School students are helping test a pilot statewide graduation test, mandatory for all 10th-grade students beginning in 2004.

Students throughout Ohio will be required to pass the new test in order to graduate. Students will have several chances to pass the test, which will cover reading, math, writing, social studies and science. Format for the test will be multiple choice, short and extended answers.

Lebanon students were given the test last month.

Jenny Moormeier, director of secondary education, said the test will replace the current ninth-grade proficiency test, which had only multiple choice questions.

"The questions in comparison to the proficiency test were a little bit harder and geared to make you think and recall more of what you have learned," said student Seth Perry, who felt he was prepared academically for the test. "The test was shorter, but it made up for it in the content and the level of knowledge."

"The test wasn't very hard, yet it covered a wide range of problems," added student Bret Barrett.

"It is a much more robust test in which good writing skills will be important," explained Mrs. Moormeier.

Superintendent Bill Sears said the Ohio Department of Education asked districts in the state to participate in the pilot test so they could evaluate test format and questions.

Several versions of the pilot test were administered to various schools in the state.

The superintendent said the staff has worked hard to modify and improve curriculums to support the new test. He added it may be good for students to do more writing in the subject areas included on the test.

"We want our students to practice taking the test, not just for the proficiency test but also for the `art' of test taking (ACT, SAT and college)," said Samuel Ison, Lebanon High School principal.