Struggles of Standardized Testing Students have learned since the beginning of grade school that grades matter. Once a student reaches middle school it turns into preparation for high school. Then finally once the student reaches high school it is preparation time for the universal standard test, for most, taken your junior year. Standardized testing should be removed from college standards because it only evaluates one day of testing instead of a student’s entire schooling career, teachers prepare students for the test and not teach to learn, and the testing does not define if a student will succeed in college. First, standardized testing is a problem because it only evaluates one day of testing rather than the student's entire schooling …show more content…
Although, what the majority may think, standardized testing does not greatly evaluate a student learning growth. Not only does it negatively impact students but it also does not justly evaluate a teacher’s ability to teach their students (Harris 1). The reason the student might not be succeeding could be because of the teacher. Without extra support from a teacher, many student’s would not be able to reach their goals. Colleges do not know about the student’s background or synaro. Columbia University wrote that, “There are many people who simply do not perform well on tests. Many of these students are smart and understand the content, but it doesn’t show on the test. Many students also develop test anxiety which hinders performance” (Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing 1). To only have one way of accumulating test scores is unjust for the students who do not perform well in …show more content…
College has such a different atmosphere than high school. College is for new beginnings and a fresh start for your future. Speaking about a new beginning can be difficult when your future has been already made it for you. Every student takes a test that will determine their future. Even if their career has nothing to do with what they are being tested in. The aptitude of your future has nothing to do with your past testing results. Even so, “Researchers have found that high standardized scores have little correlation with memory, attention and processing speed. High test scores could simply mean a student excels at rote memorization and multiple choice test taking” (Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing). Therefore just because a student performs well in executing a test does not prove anything (Standardized Tests Do Not Effectively Measure Student Achievement). Just because a test says that it is not possible; it does not mean a student cannot achieve the goal
In fact, according to many researches we can find the reasons why these tests should become mandatory. Actually, Standardized tests can give a relatively accurate measurement for students when entering college. Moreover, these tests test different kinds of skills which will make professors change the way they teach in a way that will help their students excel in their tests which will eventually result in improving education. In addition, standardized tests can help show the weaknesses students’ have which will help teachers determine how to teach their material in a way that enhances students’ understanding. In fact, according to Diane Ravitch, who is a Research Professor of Education at New York University, “ In the past few years, we have seen the enormous benefits that flow to disadvantaged students because of the information provided by state tests.
Proponents see standardized testing as a way of making testing more efficient and effective by minimizing cost and increasing people’s accountability for their performance in the system. Opponents on the other hand argue that the systems has limitations based on its very nature on what can be tested and as a result of these standards needing to be met sacrifice some very important aspects of students education experience as well as force onto students and teachers a one size fits all model that has failed to deliver on its promises. After having reviewed all the evidence in detail it becomes clear to me that standardized testing is not an effective system for educating students and does more bad than good
The fact that standardized test can decide one’s future intensifies the pressure bestowed on a high school student. Many people have different opinions towards these type of exams, ranging from college admissions required to use these exams for their admission process to some arguing against these exams not being an accurate measure of one’s true potential. Standardized testing in the college admissions process does not clearly emphasize a student’s knowledge and intelligence. I believe that these exams should not remain as an important factor in admissions decisions. The elimination of exam scores will create a fair admissions process, it will also help those who can’t afford the price these exams can cost, and will relieve the stress of many students.
Although standardized testing has its cons, it also has pros. For example, Two important things Standardized testing provides is the ability to see students weak areas and progress. Although having the ability to see students weak areas may sound like a good thing, it really isn’t. The ability to see weak areas is moreso a benefit to educators when teaching students so they know what to help students with and fix so students can improve in these areas. But, teachers don’t really help students one on one rather as one big group of up to 30+ students at times.
For some, standardized tests become more than just the average little road block they are meant to be, they can become the wreck that changes one’s life. Standardized tests began all the way back in the 1800’s with the use heightening when the No Child Left Behind Act went into place in 2001, then mandating that all 50 states had to
Although the argument supporting standardized testing as an effective measure of students’ performance and teachers’ effectiveness in content delivery cannot be disqualified in absolute terms, it can be dismissed on the ground that it hinders students’ curiosity, creativity, and motivation for learning. The fact that most of the countries which outperform the U.S. on international examination only test their students thrice in the course of their education makes a wakening call to education policy makers to initiate massive overhaul in the U.S. education system/curriculum. These changes would reduce the pressure on both teachers and students and ensure equitable resource allocation to all public schools in the
Mrs. Hawkins, a teacher working at Riverside Middle School, says the tests don’t affect your grade. Standardized tests take way too much time. Students take 10-25 hours worth of tests a year. That’s time they could’ve worked on actual school work or been outside instead of studying.
It is a known fact that standardized tests are needed. Even with their flaws, they provide a baseline for counties, states and the country as a whole to compare students and they are a crucial part of college admissions. They cannot be taken away. But the extent of their influence in a student’s education should be limited. Limiting the amount of tests given or creating a system in which the tests are not the main component that shows the level of a student’s intelligence can result in a better school experience for students, teachers and parents.
The concept of standardized testing has always been difficult for me to comprehend. In my opinion, I believe that standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT give people of different ethnicities and lower economic background a disadvantage. Watching this short video on what SAT really test on individuals has helped me become less anxious about my own SAT scores. I began to think that I was a failure because I am incapable of scoring a high score in most tests that I have taken. The pressure of having SAT or ACT scores as a necessity in order to be considered into most college is overwhelming.
Standardized Tests: Right or Wrong? Diane Ravitch, a historian of education, once said that, “sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent students do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds.” These tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800s(Is the Use), but now, many people are starting to realize that standardized tests are not as convenient as they thought they were. In 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act required all schools in the United States to test students in grades two through twelve annually in reading, math, and science(Is the Use). But since then, the U.S. has dropped from 18th in the world in mathematics to 36th, with a similar change in science as well.
Many studies have shown that standardized testing is not the best way to measure a student's performance and growth. These assessments seem to be more of an
Standardized tests are disadvantageous to the students and the economy. How many hours a day do someone spend studying for a standardized test because someone thinks if you fail it will reflect bad on that person? Standardized tests can have those affects. Not also this, lowering standardized tests can lead to better results, the test can cause these kids and teens academic knowledge to be based off of it, and it costs billions of dollars each year, just to take the test.
Standardized testing is not allowing kids to be their own person. Instead, they are stressed and confused. Standardized test are only effective when the students do well. But when students are not prepared for the test and do bad, the school suffers. The point of a standardized test is to show the growth of a student.
The standardized tests should not be eradicated from the school system, it should be a requirement in all schools, especially elementary schools. The younger they start the better they will do in the future. According to the article, titled “Testing…Testing…One, Two, Three”, it tells that “better performance-based tests will put a stop to the “dumbing-down” phenomenon” (Gluckman). This reference means that standardized testing benefits student learning by being able to identify their strengths and weaknesses; and focus on working on those weaknesses. Not only are these standardized tests unbiased, but they are also a way to monitor and promote both student and teacher achievement.
For a very long time, schools have been using standardized testing to measure the progress of students inside the classroom. This is a simple way for schools to understand the quality of the teaching and learning going on. However, standardized tests tend to be inaccurate due to how little information they can actually gather about a student. The tests don't even take into account the teaching style that the teacher used or how the student learns because the tests are all the same to make it "fair". While fairness plays a big role when it comes to education, the way that standardized testing makes things fair can actually negatively affect a student's test score.