Why Should Standardized Testing Should Not Be The Standard?

Standardized Testing Should Not Be The Standard Standardized testing can be deemed as unfair and should not be solely be used to judge a student’s academic performance. Once quoted, “If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that” (Obama). Standardized testing has been the go-to way to test a student’s intellectual ability since before World War II. Most tests consist of several hours filled with tedious multiple choice questions and in-depth essays. When spring comes around, most students dred school because they are forced to take the lengthy state required exams. Unfortunately, the scores of just one test could potentially determine a child’s entire academic future.
The way that the tests are set up, convince students to believe there is only a right and a wrong answer and nothing in between. There is no way to show creativity, critical thinking, motivation or curiosity. Also anything bothering the student on the test day can potentially alter the outcome of the child’s score. Even something simple, such as the room temperature or a headache cold make a student miss a few questions, docking points off of their overall score. Another fault of standardized test are that they are nothing like the real world. On the test you cannot talk to a fellow student, ask a question, use a calculator, or use an electronic device. Forcing students not to even move for an extended period of time is similar to prison. Testing, also, creates a poor way of thinking because the classes that are not tested are cut back. Classes such as, language, art, and music are essential for a child to learn, grow, and receive a rounded education. Due to the fact that standardized tests does not cover those topics when a school has budget cuts, those types of classes are the first to disappear. The test makes teachers and administration fail to care about student’s social and emotional factors (“Don’t Believe the Hype”). Standardized testing does not allow students a chance to think outside of the box, and blocks students from receiving a well-balanced education because of classes that are cut back due to
A standardized test does not accurately show a child's intelligence, and instead, only shows how well the student can take a test. Students and teachers are having more and more issues with standardized tests throughout the years because the nation is reinventing itself from its old generic ways. The United States government should not make standardized test a must because of these reasons. Overall, standardized tests corrupts the learning system, does not encourage creativity, discriminates against students, and cause students to have mental and emotional problems. The negative affect that standardized testing brings to a young student should be reconsidered and not the standard