Arguments Against Standardized Testing

Standardized tests do not cover real-life topics. Standardized tests are less educational than parents think. States make schools take these tests in-order to get more funding and to see how the teachers are performing. These tests have many effects on the students and their grades. The Kansas Silent Reading Test is one of the first known multiple choice standardized test in America. This test was created to reduce “Time and Effort” in administration and scoring (Standardized). Although schools do use the standardized testing methods in the classrooms today that was not what it was originally used for. Standardized testing began in the United States during WWI because the Army needed a method to determine which soldiers were “Officer Material” (Billy 75).

Teachers strive for their students to score well because the score also reflects on their teaching. Teachers seem to no longer teach for students to learn material and retain knowledge but to “ace” tests. Some learn to teach according to the test. Students learn the information that is going to be on the test but do not necessarily fully understand the material they are learning. There are certain standards that have to be met with each test. In most states part of the scores reflect the

Standardized testing has been ruling over the lives of students, making or breaking them in their education without fair judgement. Tests like the SAT and the ACT count for way too much when applying to colleges, which in turn limits the student 's capabilities to thrive in an environment that would benefit them. There are many problems within a standardized test that deems them to be unreliable as a true test of knowledge. Although designed to test groups of students on intelligence, standardized testing neglects to fairly acknowledge the abilities of each unique student which reflect their true capabilities.

Standardized tests are often unfair to a wide range of students. Students coming from high-poverty schools often have fewer resources and weaker teachers (Layton A1). “People are sick of the overkill of test volume and the consequences, ridiculous things like rating art teachers based on the reading test scores in their schools” quote Robert Schaeffer (Layton A1). “Fort Myers, Florida, gives 183 tests during the year!” quote Sen. Patty Murray (Layton A1). There is many ways students can be evaluated more

The use of standardized testing to measure students’ knowledge is an inaccurate reflection of their capabilities. By being forced to take a test that does not effectively show their abilities, students become overstressed, and the tests themselves do not promote true academic achievement. Rather than learning about subjects in order to gain knowledge, students simply memorize facts and formulas to get a decent test score. Standardized tests are not an appropriate measure of student performance, only benefit certain groups of students, and do not prepare students for the real world.

“According to a review of testing research that has been conducted over the past century, over 90% of students have found that standardized tests have a positive effect on their achievement. Students feel better about their ability to comprehend and know subject materials that are presented on a standardized test. Even if a perfect score isn’t achieved, knowing where a student stands helps them be able to address learning deficits.”(12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing). This shows when students are pushed to their limits and they have been working hard in a certain subject they are prepared for test . Teachers in this situation are put to a test also (“Good teachers understand that test preparation drills and specific core instructions to “teach to a test “) . Teachers are put to the test by whether or not they can push students to their best ability to pass the exam. Students and teachers are given the same amount time to teach a specific subject and get judged off of it . This goes back to say all of the stress put on students and teachers is unacceptable because students and teachers should not be judged off of a test

Performance assessments are different from standardized testing because instead of students sitting for hours and answering application questions with the choices of A,B,C, or D students will physically demonstrate what they have learned.(Performance Based Assessment) Under performance assessments, students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through such tasks as group projects, writing essays, performing experiments and giving them and showing the teachers they comprehend the subject. (Performance Based Assessment) The key factors in this process, is that performance assessments require kids to be active participants and have them comprehend how to get to the answer by demonstrating their knowledge. (Performance Based Assessment) In this way teachers will be provided “with more information about the learning needs of their students and [will be able to] modify their methods to meet these needs.”(Performance Based Assessment) This process “also allows students to assess their own progress and, therefore, be more responsible for their education.” (Performance Based Assessment) Schools and teachers can benefit from the process of performance assessments because of the academic knowledge they are able to show and perform during these types of assessments. (Pollard) The performance assessments can be a recognizable way of demonstrating how much the students

But also, standardized test don’t show the student as a whole. The only thing they are able to show is the ability of a student to take a test. These test that is forced on the students don’t show all the capabilities of a student and all that the student has to offer. Students that take these test the result doesn’t show whether the student is learning critical thinking skills or how engaged students are in the classroom. In the classroom, some students are more engaged than others and when they are assisted on the test this is not shown anywhere as a result of the students capabilities. These are all important factors to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of the students and the school. The school shouldn't be rated by these test scores but how the students act in the classroom and

Ever since then standardized testing has been a huge part of education. Teachers across the nation had to teach to the curriculum instead of what they thought the students needed to learn. Nowadays colleges strictly look at ACT and SAT scores rather than classroom grades, because they believe that some teachers grade on a curve and are not giving the students a fair chance. Standardized tests are an unreliable measure of student performance. A 2001 study published by the Brookings Institution found that 50-80% of year-over-year tests core improvements were temporary and “caused by fluctuations that had nothing to do with long-term changes in learning…”(“Standardized Tests”). Teachers are stressed over if they are teaching “correctly”. They went to a 4-year college, some even more, to get a degree in something that they wanted to do, either for themselves or for the children, and now they have to “teach to the test”. Tests can only measure a portion of the goals of education. A pschometrician, Daniel Koretz says, “standardized tests usually do not provide a direct and complete measure of educational achievement.”(Harris, Harris, and Smith).

Our children are the most important resource in this Country. Our way of life could forever change, by the changes that are put into our schools by the federal government. The decline in meaningful learning because of the many standardized tests mandated, first accepted into our state from the federal government, which can degrade the lifestyle we enjoy today. “Standardized Tests measure only a small portion of what makes education meaningful”, and they are taking too much out of the learning time. This is detrimental to our children’s Education. Retired teachers and grandparents in a group called United Women’s Forum, meet every week. They are working to improve civic issues regarding the Education of our children. There is need for more

High-test taking has initiated major controversy. For example, it will hold many relevant significances for students, teachers, and schools. The score of a student who took the uniform test will determine whether that student will advance to the next academic level or not. Meaning either going to the next grade level or a senior testing to get into college. Furthermore, the failure of the student(s) will also lead to the blaming of the teacher or educator, resulting in discharging them from their job or closing of the school. Subsequently, educators prefer to replace these tests with collections of students work throughout the year, like portfolios. Another disagreement of these

The opinions on standardized testing are as divided as the United States during the 2016 elections. More and more people are arguing that “our educational system has gone too far in its dependence on standardized testing” (595). As far as I’m concerned, standardized tests should not play a role in determining access to college admissions and scholarships, because the availability of resources and your chances of doing well on those tests depends on your background, family situation, location, and many other factors. Instead, they should make sure that the diplomas from all high schools are equal and that they can be certain the students have earned that diploma and know the material. The only reason why they do standardized testing is to make

Teachers are expected to teach the students, so the test scores increase each time the test is taken. However, not every student is a great test taker, which then causes a negative reflection upon the teacher in charge of preparing the student. These results also impact the school, as they do not get funding if their students perform poorly on certain standardized tests. In school, students are taught from a young age that school should be enjoyable, they should be creative, innovative, and find a love for learning. Unfortunately, standardized tests, are not equipped to measure the above mentioned ways of learning..

But once students took the test the schools have found a more ¨positive effect¨ on the student's achievement."in direct support of higher expectations, strengthened standards and better tests.” (Source 5). Also Schools have acheieved the significant schools award for all the students doing good on the test and for the teachers and staff helping them out in school so they get a good future. ¨20 school systems that "have achieved significant, sustained, and widespread gains" on national and international assessments used Department of Education stated in Nov. 2004.” (Source 5). After taking the Standardized tests students have been getting better grades and have been understanding the topic in all the classes and teachers and staff say that they will get a better future now.”Standardized tests provide accurate comparisons between sub-groups. These sub-groups can include data on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special needs, etc.” (Source

Although the aforementioned statement is specifically about social studies, analogous comparisons can be made regarding the significance of the other subjects. For instance, the disregard of science in school standardized tests may detract from a student’s sense of curiosity or awareness and ability to discover new information. Correspondingly, neglecting the artistic portion of school testing could take away from student creativity, inventive thinking, and cultural awareness (Bryant). In other words, when standardized tests overlook supplementary areas of knowledge, it narrows the focus on the specific subjects or contents that are covered and consequently limits the test taker’s potential gain in individual understanding. Anya Kamenetz,