Standardized Test Analysis

Standardized testing in the United States started in the mid- 1800’s (Standardized Tests - ProCon.org). This kind of testing was originally created to measure students’ performance and progress in school (Standardized Tests - ProCon.org). In recent years, the public school system has relied heavily on the information this test provides, in doing so creating controversy. Other than being a student myself, and participating in multiple standardized exams such as, CSAP, ACT, and SAT, I do not have much background knowledge on this debate. The debate over standardized testing has raised this inquiry question: What are the effects of standardized testing on the United States public education system?

The definition of success and routes to success may be different, but it is undeniable that all people want to succeed in their lives. According to Malcolm Gladwell, success is seen as an achievement coming from hidden opportunities, effort, diverse backgrounds, or cultural legacy, in life. However, I believe education is one of the factors that contribute the achievement of individuals. There are flaws or inequalities in the United States’ education system, and one of these is the use of standardized test which is the issue that comes in between the individual and their successes. In order to increase the chance of success for an individual, standardized testing should be revoked from education because it does not measure the creativity and knowledge of students which play important roles for one to succeed.

In my opinion, I mostly do bad on standardized tests because I either can not concentrate or I either do not get it. Sometimes the questions or problems can be also very confusing. I consider myself a bad test taker. I consider myself a bad test taker because when I find myself confused or not getting the problem or question I just make up what ever so I can move on to the next question/problem and not feel stressed anymore. I honestly have always been a bad test taker but not always. For example, on some tests I do very well but on other test I do very poorly. I do not really prepare myself for standardized tests because I either feel like I know it already or I get lazy. Sometimes its either because I know that I am going to do poorly on

Imagine a test capable of making or breaking a student's chances of getting into his or her dream college. Imagine a test score that can be easily influenced, but only through thousands of dollars worth of coaching. Now imagine that same test but biased towards certain crowds of students while also being incapable of accurately predicting their futures. Is this the test you want for colleges to use in order to distinguish students? This is the SAT—famous for the unnecessary pressure it presents to students as well as the unfair disadvantages it presents to many others. Since these SAT scores are extremely artificial, SAT tests are not an accurate predictor for future success.

Alarming is an understatement when it comes to the anxiety and stress standardized testing brings. Students are told how vital these tests can be to college acceptance, class placement, and school ranking, so it is no surprise that they lead students to become stressed out and anxious about taking the assessments. According to education researcher Gregory J. Cizek, "illustrating how testing... produces gripping anxiety in even the brightest students, and makes young children vomit or cry, or both" (2). The affect standardized testing has on students is unacceptable, no students should be anxious and uneasy about going to school due to a test. To continue, the Sacramento Bee reported that "test-related jitters, especially among young students,

Thoughts about the ACT or SAT give most students sleepless nights. Well, it is an important test but getting overwhelmed by it is not going to help. These few fun facts about the ACT/SAT are just what you need when you are looking for a short, refreshing distraction from the intense studying. The ACT/SAT should be the main factor in college acceptance because it gives minorities an equal chance of admission, it provides a standard for all students of all high school backgrounds to achieve, and test you on the basic skills you need to know after leaving high school anyway.

M., & Barton, K. (2003). Assessing Students With Disabilities: Issues and Evidence. Los Angeles: The Regents of the University of California. Retrieved from http://cse.ucla.edu/products/reports/TR587.pdf

In standardized tests I always get a good grade and in some occasions I have got some high scores on them. I think that I consider myself a good test taker because when I have a test really important I always sleep early, practice things that might be on the test, and the most important for me is to try my best in every question no matter if I never practice doing that question. I also consider myself a good standardized test taker because in the past couple of years I have gotten good grades and it has made me proud. I never been this way because I used to think that school was just a joke because I was going to become a pro soccer player, but now I can see that in order for me to become a soccer player I have to study a lot specially science

How can a test improve your intelligence? And improve the public education system, standardized testing is not an effective way to improve public education.Standardized tests are unnecessary in the United States It does not cater to students of every background in relationships to body ability, race,class and also non english speakers

Where are we headed as our future generations prepare to take over and lead our nation? Will our nation’s graduating students be competent and equipped to lead us into a successful future? How do we determine if we are preparing them to be intelligent enough to be successful in this world? What is intelligence and success? And is that all it takes to lead a successful nation? It has been proven that student performance and higher grades can dramatically increase the economic growth of a nation, but is this all we need? Has Washington (Govenement) put in place the best method for establishing a new generation to lead our country? Or should we ask, do we want Washington to be taking the lead of our educational system?

Responsibilities of Users of Standardized Test (RUST), is a way to ensure fairness and accuracy of assessments. RUST was created to ensure testing assessments are implemented properly. Test selection is a section in RUST; I believe to have the utmost importance. Test selection involves selecting the proper test for a specific purpose. It is essential to match the tests characteristics to the test takers characteristics. The purpose of test selection includes a tests description, accountability, prediction, and program evaluation. The tests conclude its appropriateness to the test taker by examining characteristics of test taker, accuracy of scoring, norming procedures, modifications, and fairness (RUST, 2003a).

Standardized tests are annoying little things that students in schools all across the nation have to take every year. Though, if all the facts are taken into consideration, they do not really seem worth it, do they? Many people speculate whether or not they are actually measuring a student’s intelligence or anything like that. It seems that students do not necessarily have to learn the material, only memorize it for a short period of time. The question has to be raised, though-- what exactly qualifies a test to be a standardized test? Well, as described by The Glossary of Education Reform, there are two main things that make a test standardized. The first being that the test “...requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or

The two quantitative instruments that will be use are a standardized test and an attitude measurement tool. “It is a means for improving achievement by teaching diverse students through their own cultural filters” (Gay 50). The standardized test will be a running record. The running record that will be used to measure their reading level to establish if any growth has occurred over the course of the six weeks of the study. The running record would reflect the current system that teacher and school use to test the students reading levels of the students participating. The running record will be ordered if the teacher is unable to provide a copy of a running record. By using the same running record the students already have in the class

All in all, people who argue in favor of state mandated testing claim these two points are the most practical way of having some scale to grade student and teacher performance. “Proponents say these tests measure student achievement, ensure teachers and schools are accountable to taxpayers and provide consistency” (Concordia). However, there are other ways to measure this consistency besides standardized tests. “Test scores attract most of the attention because they are quantifiable and allow comparisons. But other measures can show how well schools are performing. These indicators include:

The debate on standardized tests and its adequacy in testing a student’s knowledge about a subject has been going on for many years. Tests, in general, has been around for centuries and without them there would not be progress and no gleams of progress. Students ranging from elementary school to high school have experienced standardized testing. Teachers, educators, and parents are also involved in the students’ lives, which revolves around the tests, one way or another. There are many views on standardized test. However, the three most common views are: educators who are for standardized test which benefits students, educators who are at the other extreme of opposing standardized tests, and educators who view tests are a benefit if done in appropriate amounts.