Preview

Standardized Testing In Education

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
265 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Standardized Testing In Education
Education is not a perfect or smooth running profession. The world of education is rife with complex problems that have no black or white solutions. Education policies and practices often exist in an open ended grey area that change frequently. Standardized testing is an open ended problem that plagues the future of education in this country. Optimally, standardized testing could be used as a powerful tool to monitor student growth and achievement, as well as provide valuable data to educators, administrators and policy makers about educational gaps and deficiencies. This information could be used to help allocate necessary resources to schools and students in need. This is what standardized test were designed to do. However, this is not how they are used. …show more content…
They have high stakes consequences that put unfair pressure on schools and educators that can lead to federal sanctions or financial withholding. This high stakes component of testing also leads to unethical practices in methodology, such as sacrificing teaching higher level thinking skills in order to teach skill specifically linked to the test. Standardized tests have construct-irrelevant variance because they do not properly account for differences in diverse groups, and reflect structural inequalities in education. The majority of curriculum used in the classroom is poorly aligned to the tests, and the skills the tests emphasize teaching do not correlate to the skills required in the real world. Finally, access to, and integration of, the technology required to take the tests, along with confusing presentation and interface, are variables which are drastically affecting
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Benefits Of Standardized Testing
    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Benefits Of Standardized Testing

    Standardized testing has become the focus of modern school reform since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind law in 2002 (Evans 1). The act was designed to hold all public schools to a high standard of education, measured by the results of students’ test scores on statewide standardized tests. Not all students are good test takers, and not all careers require the ability to take traditional tests in order to be successful on the job. A significant number of students nowadays would care much about standardized tests. This is because students feel like they must worry about a test which directly affects their grades and ability to learn. Standardized tests place a heavy weight on students that can lead to stress, take up instruction timing, and students won’t be able to learn anything from them.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lelac Almagor's Argument Against Standardized Testing
    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Lelac Almagor's Argument Against Standardized Testing

    Supporters believe that standardized tests are not narrowing the curriculum, rather they are focusing it on important basic skills all students need to master. Therefore, considering these views, it is understandable as to why standardized testing is seen to be a great indicator of a student’s future academic…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Are The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing
    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Are The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

    Standardized testing has been a heavily debated topic for many years because it is not evident if testing is more beneficial or detrimental for children or schools. There are many pros and cons associated with the use of standardized testing. Most educators agree that there needs to be a method of accountability for schools and school districts. However, the question remains, are students tested too much? Additionally, to what extent can a standardize test assess students achievement? Some states use alternative methods of assessment. President Obama pledged to reduce the amount of standardized testing in our schools mainly because it is clear that standardized testing has not improved student achievement in the United States. Standardized…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Nefarious Standardized Testing
    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Nefarious Standardized Testing

    Michelle Obama once said, “If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I would not be here. I guarantee you that.” Standardized testing began a long time ago in China. It was a basic form to determine the eligibility for positions in the government of the ruling class. A standardized test is an analysis that is overseen and scored in a scheduled manner. In 2001 President George W. Bush passed the ‘No Child Left Behind’ education reform which expanded the state mandated standardized testing and assesses the schools performance. Standardized testing is not a proper way to measure the abilities of students. Students will take so many standardized tests that they become…

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing In Schools
    • 1488 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing In Schools

    When going to school students are supposed to learn based off a curriculum, but instead they are learning based off a test. These test are meant to help students, but instead they are hurting them. Standardized test requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way. Also they are scored in a “standard” or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students. Each state has a different name for their standardized test, for Virginia they call theirs the Standards Of Learning, SOL’s. These test are neither fair nor objective, puts pressure on the students, and it cuts off time in the school year.…

    • 1488 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Standardized Testing in the Us: Why It Does Not Work
    • 1271 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Standardized Testing in the Us: Why It Does Not Work

    In the United States, standardized testing is used to measure how knowledgeable or unknowledgeable a person is in a particular subject. According to the Council of Chief State School Officers website, standardized tests are defined as “a testing instrument that is administered, scored, and interpreted in a standard manner. It may be either norm-referenced or criterion-referenced” (Council of Chief State School Officers). I believe that this method of testing is not an accurate way of measuring ones knowledge for it is biased towards certain ethic groups and creates unneeded stress for students. This style of testing is biased towards certain ethic groups and cultures because it measures all students on the same level. Different cultures have different ways of thinking or perceiving things, therefore all cultures should not be tested on the same level. Not to say that one culture should be tested on lower level or scale, but a student who was raised in America and one who was raised in France will obviously have differences such as language or social beliefs. According to my psychology textbook, “the impact of experience and cultural values can extend beyond particular items to a child’s familiarity with the entire testing situation. Tests underestimate a child’s intelligence if, for example, the child’s culture encourages children to solve problems in collaboration with others and discourages them from excelling as individuals” (Kail & Cavanaugh).…

    • 1271 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Misunderstanding Of Standardized Testing
    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page

    Misunderstanding Of Standardized Testing

    Standardized tests have existed in America since 1800s. The tests are ubiquitous attempt to measure students’ performance based on his or her ability to come up with a singular answer to multiple choice questions. A major problem with this is that all students learn differently and their ability to take the standardized test is not a valid representation. The “No Child Left Behind Act” caused a surge in the amount of standardized tests required throughout the nation. The results of these standardized testing showed that America was in the 31st position in the world in the level of education. This is reflected in our school system, which is most likely caused by the misunderstanding of the standardized testing. Standardized testing limits…

    • 220 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    My Paper
    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages

    My Paper

    Standardized testing, every student should be familiar with it, but is it nonsense? Does it actually help schools and their students advance in academic competence, or does it hinder their ability by adding more anxiety and stress to students? Jacequeline Howard, a twenty year old student helps us disclose on these examinations by giving us a student’s perspective on how standardized testing is not only changing the way government looks at funding, but also discouraging students and changing the way people look at students. Through Howards ethos, pathos, logos, and style in her essay, we can really see her passion for other students and her reason to promote a change.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standardized Testing In Schools
    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Standardized Testing In Schools

    Diagnostic tests are used to identify the needs of students that may need extra guided instruction by testing specific skills. Standardized tests are a type of diagnostic tests that are used to diagnose individual learning problems or strengths of the students. The most commonly used forms of standardized testing are when they are used to evaluate students’ progress and teachers’ and schools’ effectiveness (Slavin, 2015, p.385,386). Benchmark assessments are another way schools will assess students usually in reading and math. These assessments are used to give schools useful information on students’ progress to benefit them in the future (Slavin, 2015, p.404).…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standardized Testing
    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Standardized Testing

    Standardized testing has a detrimental and counterproductive effect on kids in the traditional education setting. It objectifies kids and ranks them according to an arbitrary scale that is not customized to fit individual students and their disparities in learning styles. There is significant evidence and numerous studies that show standardized testing's negative effects on grade school level students. Other methods should be investigated and pursued instead of proctoring standardized tests to ensure that students are being educated to their full potential. Several methods can be put in place to replace standardized testing including stealth assessment, a sampling test method, or written performance descriptions,…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Importance Of Standardized Testing In Schools
    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Importance Of Standardized Testing In Schools

    “If the purpose of learning is to score well on a test, we’ve lost sight of the real reason for learning”. Admits Jeannie Fulbright. Students should not take standardized tests. Testing takes up too much time, there are too many tests, and schools have to wait too long for results.…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standardized Testing
    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Standardized Testing

    Sitting in a classroom for forty-five minutes feels long and stressful. During the standardized tests students have to sit in a classroom for hours at a time, knowing that their future dreams of being a doctor, teacher, or lawyer could come to an end if they mess up one exam. Standardized tests should not be required for students to graduate high school. They cause students a lot of stress, they are limiting the curriculum for a school to teach more valuable subjects, and they are judging students intelligence by one test, which is not enough to know if a student would be able to graduate. Standardized testing should not be required to graduate high school because they are costly, stressful, and are setting students up to fail. Statistics show that students perform worse off on standardized tests, than they perform in the classroom.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Argument Against Standardized Testing Research
    • 1852 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Argument Against Standardized Testing Research

    Standardized tests have become a recent controversial topic across the nation. Americans strive for a great education system, but fail to realize that testing is the main issue. They are believed to be a simple way to evaluate students from all different areas. However, there are countless faults that cannot show truly show students’ ability. Standardized tests in the United States do not accurately measure intelligence and should be modified to prevent issues in academics.…

    • 1852 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standardized testing
    • 1747 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Standardized testing

    Standardized testing is something you're bound to come across in public schools as soon as first grade. I remember taking test after test as a public school student, and I can't really say I ever got anything out of it. These tests are putting so much pressure on teachers and students a like. A bunch of old men sitting around a table who've never even stepped foot in my school can make a test and say that it evaluates what students have learned as a whole. The problem with standardized testing, its just that, its standardized. Humans strive by working with their peers, giving them the chance to directly feed off of what others are thinking. However this is being pushed aside by the hustle and bustle of teaching a multiple choice test. Standardized testing is being over used and abused. How we are testing, who we are testing, why we are testing. We need to evaluate if its really worth all the money and trouble in the end. According to the teachers on the receiving end these tests seem to be doing more harm than help. Teachers feel they are just teaching a multiple choice test now to assure that their students do well. Testing also takes money, resulting in many districts cutting programs such as arts. Standardized testing is also a money making business, someone out there needs to sell these tests to your school district so they can take a pay check home. Most teachers have a negative attitude about testing because it bring more heartache than help. This needs to be evaluated to assure that we are getting some positive useful information out of our tests.…

    • 1747 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standardized Testing In High Schools
    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Standardized Testing In High Schools

    Standardized testing is everywhere. When we go to get our first driver license we take a standardized written test. Before we even arrive to our senior of high school, we have been subjected to at least 10 standardized test a year. Even in kindergarten, students are prepare for exams. Standardized testing…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More