Persuasive Essay On Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is an issue with students fearful to fail the tests, with all the pressure and tension on them to overcome this predicament, as well as teachers ' jobs being in jeopardy. Most students from lower income families are at a disadvantage with this setup and groundwork for standardized tests, such as the SAT. A wealthier, more affluent family can buy higher quality and superior preparation books. Students even turn to various methods such as cheating, in order to overcome the tests. Another bad example of the aftermath of standardized testing is cramming, which some might do as a result of the lack of concern with studies.

Standardized testing has become a very controversial topic amongst the nation. There are two sides, one that agrees that these tests are doing well for students and school officials, and another that argues that these tests are hurting the students taking them and should be put to a stop. Norman R. Augustine wrote an article for the need of standardized testing, and Jessie B. Ramey States the ways that the tests are impairing the learning capability of the students. Norman uses three arguments that people opposing the standardized test would most often use. The first is that these test encourages the teachers just to “teach the test”, but he ensures that, this is exactly what the teachers should be doing.

Schools should not be teaching them how to fill in bubbles on a test and brain washing them that these scores will make or break the rest of their lives. Standardized testing should be cut down in schools across America in grades k-12 since they cause easy avoided stress over the grades, they do not improve students abilities, and the system used is harmful to education. The stress caused by these standardized tests can be really easily avoided. The problem with this is that students tend to obsess the letter grades they get on the tests and they obsess too much to the point where they disappoint themselves and their parents if the get a bad grade on the tests. Testing should never be this way, but it still is and we are not doing anything about it.

The accountability of the scores is meant to encourage teachers to adopt better and more effective methods of teaching, as well as to urge students to work harder. However the effects are more detrimental. Because of testing, students are more likely to be frustrated and discouraged at having to move so fast to cover all the ground needed. If a student is having a bad day or just is not a good test taker, all anyone can say is “tough luck.” The teachers will only focus on the select subjects tested on, and then only the select aspects they believe will be covered in the testing. Depending on how desperate a teacher is for good test scores, inappropriate preparations can be made before testing, sometimes even to the point of cheating.

There is no more individualized instruction; everything is scripted curriculum to prepare kids for the test. “The law's annual testing requirements in math and reading have led many schools to pump up the amount of time they spend teaching these two staples — often at the expense of other subjects, such as history, art or science.” (Blass, 2007) Another problem is that the assessment doesn’t take individual learning into account. There is no correction for a learning disability in a student, or for students in Special Ed. Rob Andrews put it best by saying, “A school's AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) should not be based on standardized tests that fail to account for a child's cognitive capacity… in many cases [the standardized test] is beyond the abilities of special education students.” (Andrews,

First off, many students are not good test takers and tend to do poorly on them. It is unfair that a student could be left back because of one bad test grade. Although standard testing may not be the best option for most students there are some benefits. One being that it gives students a glance into the future and how testing never really goes away. In high school students are constantly taking quizzes exams and tests.

All students dread one thing when it comes to school - testing. Standardized test are the main focus in our school systems instead of actually gaining knowledge at the end of the year. As a mother, Michelle Rhee, understands the lack of attention given on education as a whole instead of just waiting on the scores, but she still agrees on continuing with standardized test. Kristina Rizga opposes the opinion of Michelle Rhee as she does not believe standardized test truly measure the intelligence of a student. Kristina Rizga proves her stand against standardized test by utilizing solid use of argumentation.

There is a large amount of pressure put onto each and every student, it all comes down to one standardized test your junior or senior year of high school. These tests do not measure the ability to think creatively because it is a way which students are answering the same type of question under the same condition. Unfortunately, standardized testing is linked to a specific grade level and is not a good way to determine a student’s capability to perform. “Math, reading, and to a lesser extent, science are the only subjects regularly tested, students are drilled in these topics.” This is not a benefit to the student who is stronger in other subjects such as history, music, and art. These subjects help develop critical thinking; which students believe they should be tested on.

Standardized Testing Argumentative Essay The United States’ education system sets kids up for failure. This is due to mandatory tests called standardized testing, which attempts to see where a child’s current cognitive abilities lie. However, standardized testing fails to do so, and is a detriment to student education, failing to prepare students for post-education life. These fallacies in the US education system are due to the avocation for teachers to ‘Teach to the Test’ and testing material not being suited to properly gauge student progress and knowledge. Teachers are persuaded to regulate what they teach to their students by what 's on the test due to government funding based off school’s test scores.

The strict and narrow subject focus leads to numb disinterest as whatever a student may be interested in is suddenly discouraged in the face of passing tests. Schools, academically, have been reduced to just learning to take high stakes tests, generally in a standardized form. The majority of standardized tests are multiple choice questions, which can be taken without a single thought. There is essentially no effort required for the tests, compared to projects or essays. On the flip side, simple mistakes or a bad day can lead to bad results.