Benedict Carey, author of How We Learn, penned a piece in the New York Times Sunday Review in November called Studying for the Test by Taking It.  He cites studies about how self-testing improves knowledge and that blending topics together (what I call comprehensive vs slivered) helps students learn.  I always say to my students you are learning while you take a test.  This is why exit slips and independent work are great indicators for students and teachers to figure out what needs more practice (or less!).  In a related statement from the New York State of Regents, it appears that New York will administer one more old Integrated Algebra Regents this June before completely stepping up to Common Core Algebra I Regents exams.