improving student performance

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:48 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:740

improving student performance

by 2010gmat » Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:23 am
For years, the debate over public education reform has centered on financing. Many claim that pouring more
money into the public schools will improve student performance. However, the only way to fix our school systems
is to inject new ideas and new approaches. Today the schools are organized to benefit their adult employees
rather than the students. Which of the following, if true, best weakens the argument?
"¢ Schools that have instituted "new approaches" attract the best performing students.
"¢ Schools without outside playgrounds have lower levels of student performance than schools that do.
"¢ Studies show that student performance corresponded most directly with the education of the students' families.
"¢ School employees, by an overwhelming margin, said that the system performed well, citing superior benefits than
those available in comparable private institutions.
"¢ Researchers in education have shown that students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to
receive higher scores on standardized tests.

oa post some discussion

i think there are 2 choices that weaken the conclusion...

source Manhattan gmat
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 81
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: South Korea
Thanked: 4 times

by sadullaevd » Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:26 am
I would go with A.

B. strengthens=> playgrounds need to be financed.

C. Nothing told about student's family

D. Says the same thing from the stimulus. "benefit their adult employees
rather than the students"

E.strengthens. "students... hight per capita spending... receive higher scores on standardized tests"

OA plz
Stay skeptical,
Think critically,
Assume nothing.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 141
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:19 am
Thanked: 1 times

by getso » Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:11 am
I would go with E

We need to weaken the argument that "Fix school systems rather than spending on schools"

E clearly weakens by stating higher spending yields higher performance.

Legendary Member
Posts: 1161
Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 2:52 am
Location: Sydney
Thanked: 23 times
Followed by:1 members

by mehravikas » Thu Nov 26, 2009 6:55 pm
IMO - E

If higher per capita income for schools leads to higher scores, then we can conclude that schools are not having a wrong approach by focusing on financing.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:48 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:740

by 2010gmat » Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:39 pm
oa is e indeed....

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 516
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:22 pm
Thanked: 112 times
Followed by:13 members

by smackmartine » Sat May 14, 2011 7:53 pm
Can someone please explain why A is incorrect?