What's Right about Standardized Tests?

What's good about standardized tests, and what are they for?

Standardized tests were designed to evaluate how well a student had learned the information being tested, to help the student learn by reinforcing what they he had learned, to see how students compare to each other, and to help a student see where he is lacking so that he can improve.

Because standardized tests have the same questions or the same types of questions for anyone who takes them, standardized tests offer educators, students, politicians, and test makers and administrators a chance to compare how well students are performing. Standardized tests offer a more meaningful comparison than tests made just by each teacher for their particular class would.

Standardized tests, besides being the same for everyone, are graded by a computer. Not only is this way of grading more accurate and less subjective than if the tests were made and graded solely by teachers, but it allows the scores on these tests to be shared with those who need the information at a relatively fast pace.

Standardized tests are scored by computers which are non-biased. Students are scored solely on whether or not they answered the question correctly, without taking in to account outside factors that a human may.

Tests are a reliable way of getting the kind of information educators need, because they are consistent and have a reasonable standard measure of error.

Supporters of standardized tests include parents and students as well as teachers.

What's Wrong with Standardized Tests?

What's wrong with standardized tests and why do some people oppose them so strongly?

Most opponents of standardized tests don't oppose the tests or tests in general altogether. What opponents want is meaningful reform to how tests are used, reduction of the emphasis placed on tests, change in the content of standardized tests, fewer tests, more accurate tests, and standardized tests that are more fair for all test takers.

   

Currently, standardized tests are being used not only to evaluate students, but teacher performance as well. This can cause several problems because standardized tests were not designed to double as a way of evaluating teachers. Opponents of standardized tests think that a teacher's job security should not be based so strongly on how well a student performs on a test.

Standardized tests come with a lot of pressure. Pressure to do well and advance in school, pressure for teachers to make sure their students perform well, and pressure to balance being ready for these tests with other things that need to be done. The pressure put on teachers sometimes requires them to teach their students the test. This practice, while ensuring decent test scores, does little to prepare students for life outside of the classroom.

Standardized tests aren't always as accurate as they could be. Test makers sometimes make errors, the standard measure of error on many tests is enough to call into question their accuracy, and test books are sometimes altered.

Tests are made by fallible and biased humans and the tests aren't necessarily fair to or accommodate people who think or understand things differently than the test makers.

Tests, especially multiple choice tests, don't encourage students to think critically, independently, or creatively. The tests emphasize memorization and intaking information and outputting the information in a similar format.

Over testing can also be a problem. About 100 million standardized tests are administered to students each year in America. In some areas, over 200 tests are given to grades k-12 a year. That's over 15 high stakes test a year per grade.

Opponents of standardized tests think that there are other, less stressful and more constructive ways of educating and evaluating students. For example, shorter tests, fewer tests, in class assessments, and tests that encourage thinking instead of pure memorization.

Tests in America

                Tests in America

     Every year millions of standardized tests are administered all over the country to a large variety of students. Standardized tests are simply tests that are given in the same way to all test takers. Standardized tests are an integral part of the American education system. In many schools, in order to move on to the next grade, it is necessary to pass certain exams. Most colleges and universities also require prospective students to take standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT in order to be considered for admission. Even many graduate schools require the passing of some form of standardized test. Despite the commonality, and general acceptance of standardized tests, there still remain questions and controversy around them. There are mainly two major views on standardized tests. There are those who support standardized tests because they believe that the tests are fair, offer good comparisons, are accurate, and a good measure of how well a student is doing. People that oppose standardized tests, do so because they don't agree with how they are being used, the high importance that is placed in the tests, and the way the tests don't encourage creative or critical thinking. Those who oppose tests also don't agree that the tests are necessarily fair or accurate. Both parties, however, generally want what is best for the students and their education.