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Standardized Tests and Their Effect on the Community

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Standardized Tests and Their Effect on the Community
Standardized Tests and Their Effect on the Community
Carol Childs
Prof. Moore / Saint Leo University
SSC101
14 October 2012

There are many types of standardized tests used within schools to determine levels of intelligence and knowledge of subject matter. Teachers and the school board use these test results to determine areas that need improvement for the student and what subject areas they excel in. For students, many of them do not like taking tests especially when they hold a very high standard for where they are placed or what they are able to achieve from those results. Teachers can hold mixed viewpoints regarding the standardized tests because if a student has trouble taking tests but knows the subject matter then the results do not accurately reflect their knowledge.
Students approach these standardized tests in a different ways. Some will study intensely to know the material because they want to do well on the test and often know how important they are to their success. Others will also study throughout the year or prior to the test but could allow their nerves to take over or exhibit such concern or fear over the test that they do not do well. The results of these tests are important but more is factored into them than just how well someone does on them. Being prepared, knowing the material, having good test taking skills, and a good attitude or being less stressed play a large part on the test score.
Some of the standardized testing is done on an annual basis, during specific grade levels, or throughout high school in preparation for college entrance. FCAT is a test that many students and teachers in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade are aware of and take much time throughout the year preparing for the standards of the test because it determines whether a student is able to be promoted to the next grade level. This is one test in particular that students do not like simply because they know if they do not do well then they could be put in a



Cited: Berlatsky, N. (Ed.). (2011). School Reform. Farmington Hills, MI.: Greenhaven Press Bily, C. (Ed.). (2011). Standardized Testing. Farmington Hills, MI.: Greenhaven Press Murdoch, S. (2007). IQ: A Smart History of a Failed Idea. Hoboken, NJ.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Shiraev, E., Levy, D., Miller, B., Perry, J., Perry, E., Kimmel, M., …Henslin, J. (2011). Looking At Us: An Interdisciplinary Study of the Human Behaviors. Pearson Learning Solutions. Ludwig, J. (2003). Educational Achievement and Black-White Inequality, Vol. 3, No. 3. Retrieved from http://educationnext.org/educationalachievementandblackwhiteinequality/ Popham, W. (1999). Why Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Educational Quality, Vol. 6, No. 6. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/Why-Standardized-Tests-Don 't-Measure-Educational-Quality.aspx Bui, S., Imberman, S., Craig, S. (2012). Poor Results for High Achievers, Vol. 12, No. 1. Retrieved from http://educationnext.org/poor-results-for-high-achievers/ Reynolds, C. (2003-2009). Intelligence Testing. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/intelligence-testing/

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