As the clock ticks, students sit in a row, starting at their screens as their hands glide over the answer choices nervously. Seven students would find themselves receiving a perfect score.
Students enrolled in business endorsement courses, including Business Administration I (BIM I) and Business Administration II (BIM II), work on getting their Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification. Earning this certification gives students a competitive advantage in the job market, opening doors to future career opportunities by showcasing their advanced abilities with the software.
In past school years, few students have obtained perfect scores on the MOS word expert exam. Yet, this year seven students earned a perfect score: sophomore Ishan Mair, sophomore Anaya Mawani, junior Jacqueline McMillin, sophomore Yalini Muthukumar, junior Siya Shah, sophomore Arnav Wakdikar and junior Cynthia Zhao scored 100 percent on the exam.
“Getting a 100% is very rare on this exam,” BIM I teacher Lindsey Bates said. “Our students were able to achieve it because of the amount of practice tests they were able to complete during the class that prepared them.”
Students enrolled in BIM I and II undergo challenging practices to prepare for MOS exams. The class provides students with various project based activities that simultaneously guide them through test objectives. Through the process of learning objectives, students complete a shorter test to show what they have learned.
“Showing up to every class ready to work has allowed me to prepare efficiently,” Wakdikar said. “Although I was not expecting to get a perfect score, I knew my mindset and preparation will reflect [in] my score.”
Students start with an associate level test for basic understanding on Microsoft softwares, followed by the expert level testing.The expert level testing provides various objectives for students to show their advanced skills on the software. The tests are project based. Each section is tested through a project which accommodates for each advanced learning objective needed. Students have 90 minutes to complete the exam and scored out of 1,000.
“I was worried before the test in case I didn’t study a section well enough,” Mawani said. “However, I had hope since I felt familiar with the set up because of the practices we did.”
The class offers opportunities for free to gain certifications for various other platforms within Microsoft, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
“Their certification in these softwares has moved students to be first in line for jobs, internships and develops their career,” Bates said. “It is great because it adds value to the class which saves time and money.”
Many who apply to jobs may take courses requiring more time, commitment and money to obtain a Microsoft certification. Coppell offers the Career and Technical Education course to benefit students and provide an opportunity to advance their careers.
“As a teacher, I am very proud of my students for those who were able to earn perfect scores and the certification,” Bates said. “It makes me glad that their achievements contribute beyond high school.”
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