The stakes will increase for sophomores when they take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning next week.

They eventually have to pass the math, reading and writing sections of the test in order to graduate in two years.

The Oak Harbor School District received the tests this week and they are securely locked away until testing time.

While some sophomores are feeling the pressure of the looming graduation requirement, others are confident they will pass the test.

“If you pass the seventh-grade WASL, then you pass the tenth-grade WASL,” said Danielle Goodnight, a sophomore at Oak Harbor High School.

Fellow sophomore Robert Hubner echoed Goodnight’s comments.

“The WASL isn’t that hard if you take it right,” Hubner said.

Goodnight said because the test is now a graduation requirement, students may take their time answering the questions to make sure the answer is correct.

“It puts a lot more pressure on you,” Goodnight said.

Hubner said teachers in the class are trying to fit the test into the curriculum.

When Oak Harbor School District sophomores took the test last year, 73.8 percent passed reading, 47.1 percent passed math and 68.5 percent passed writing.

When Coupeville School District sophomores took the test last year, 70.4 percent passed reading, 46.9 percent passed math and 60 percent passed writing.

Sophomores will notice several changes when they take the assessment beginning March 13. They will take the test over the course of two months, with the reading and writing portions in March and then the math and science portions in April.

Students in the class of 2010, this year’s eighth graders, will also have to pass the science WASL in order to graduate from high school.

Bill Weinsheimer, Oak Harbor High School assistant principal, said the lengthy testing period provides more time to score the reading and writing portions.

Elementary and middle school students will take all portions of the WASL in April.

Results for the WASL will be released June 8, which is several months earlier than in previous years. Weinsheimer said students who failed portions of the WASL need to know their results in June to provide time to plan a way to pass the assessment, which could entail taking summer school classes geared toward WASL improvement. The school will offer a retake opportunity in early August.

Sophomore J.D. Hughes said he would like to see the first retake opportunity available sooner than August. Students will have as many as five chances to pass the assessment before the end of their senior year.

In addition to the sophomores, some freshman, juniors and seniors are also taking the assessment.

Weinsheimer said 10 to 20 freshman have signed up to take portions of the test. He said he is encouraging interested freshmen to take subjects they are strong in. If they pass those portions, they can concentrate on their weaker subjects in later years.

Some juniors and seniors are taking the test to improve their scores, which appear on their official transcripts.

To help students pass the sections, the school district has offered math and English labs to help them improve their skills and a summer school program will also be available.

Because the WASL is now a graduation requirement beginning with the sophomore class, Weinsheimer thinks scores will improve because more students will take the test seriously.

He is concerned about sophomores being absent during test time. Should they miss school, they won’t be able to make up the test and will have to wait until the next testing time in August.

“People will not realize the implications of being absent,” Weinsheimer said. By not allowing absent students a make-up test, it helps maintain security. That way students won’t get an idea of the material on the test from other students.

The tests are locked away and only three employees have access to them, Weinsheimer said, adding the test will be administered by trained proctors.

School officials have been busy informing parents about the importance of WASL success for sophomores. An informational night was held where 25 parents attended and a letter was sent out to parents telling about the assessment’s importance.