Standardized Testing

Ever since the beginning of school, standardized tests have always been a very important part of one’s future.   Students of all ages take these tests and what they do on them helps teachers and parents decide where the students should be placed. For example, a student could be in an honors class or a “special” reading or math class based on their performance.   Many students benefit from these tests and are placed in a high class but others are victims and are placed in a class that they know is below their level.   Andrew Strenio Jr.,   a well known writer, once said,   “We need to stop relying so heavily on tests that predict the future and start evaluating people more on their actual performance.”   Though unfortunately not everyone believes this and still today students are being rejected from a class or college because of his/hers test score.   We need to stop letting tests control our futures and instead look at a person for what they are really capable of doing.
To further understand why this is so important it is necessary to know that not everyone can take a test and do well on it.   As Andrew Strenio Jr. states, “You may be more intelligent, more skilled, more decent than the next person but if you can’t handle the challenge of these tests, chances of a person who doesn’t know the information but favors tests will pass you.”   Not being able to take these tests really destroys your future. Your chance at getting an award, a scholarship, or even getting into a good college or occupation would be very hard.   These tests put kids on a “fast”, “average”, or “slow” track in school and if you know the information but can’t express and show it through a test you will get left behind.
Standardized tests are tests where students just answer questions based on what they should know.   If this is the case why do so many students stress out and worry before one.   Students are afraid that they will forget or not know the information.   They get frustrated, confused, and... [continues]

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