Didn't even know what that test actually was called until I looked it up. Never had to take it, never would have made it anyway since I'm already ranked Capt. in the Tubby Corps.
I'll agree though that it seems that they're trying to either assimilate european/asian standards for education (and I use standards loosely) too hard or too fast. They (DOE or more importantly the state boards) need to redesign the whole curriculum from the ground up rather than try to do the old 'peer over your partner's shoulder' trick.
Though if all else fails you could strap bombs to all the failures and 'send in the clowns'.
Fight idiots with idiots.