An Examination of Standardized Testing Essay - 1592 Words

Do standardized tests really improve the quality of public education? For years they have been used to judge schools academic performance and assess the needs of students. No longer can illiterates be graduated from high school. No longer can teachers pass a student from one grade to another without having taught that student anything (Spellings). While these advances are beneficial, standardized exams often hurt already disadvantaged schools, promote states to lower their standards of education, and cause schools to focus more on the exams themselves rather than on their students actual learning (Karp). One of the major foundations of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, a national law requiring public schools to distribute†¦show more content†¦actual comprehension of the tested subjects. Many argue that the dramatic increase in test scores among students, as much as fourteen points for African-American nine-year-olds in reading and seventeen points for Hispanic nine-year-olds in math, shows educational improvement (Spellings). However, ?standardized tests are scientifically unreliable and provide little real useful information about the learning needs of students,? and thus courses in test-taking combined with yearly discrepancies amongst exams could easily yield such results (Karp). An increase in test scores shows that students can take tests more effectively, but does not necessarily demonstrate an increase in learning. Not only do standardized tests frequently lead to a lack of learning, but they also limit the learning capabilities of more successful and motivated districts. The requirements of the NCLB Act are strict enough that, in order to meet them, teachers must vastly reduce the depth and variety of their curricula (Karp). As schools begin to view standardized exams as their sole opportunity for funding, and as teachers begin to see high test scores as their only guarantee of not losing their job, schools limit their material to the narrow guidelines of the state (Orr). Creativity is suppressed, bright students are unable to meet their potentials, and school time is wasted on test-taking strategies, all because of the national government?s threat of sanctionsShow MoreRelatedStandardized Testing And The School Entrance Examination Board- Or Sat Began1424 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing had only been added to America’s public education curriculum when â€Å"the common school movement began in earnest in the 1830s in New England as reformers†¦ began to argue successfully for a greater government role in the schooling of all children† (â€Å"Common School†). â€Å"By 1845 in the United States, public education advocate Horace Mann was calling for standardized essay testing† (Mathews), because he believed that â€Å"political stability and social harmony depended on universal education†Read Moreincreased from four hundred twenty million dollars to one billion dollars due to the new education1400 Words   |  6 PagesPierandi). Standardized testing produces stressors which affect the performance of students and teachers, but the pressure to succeed on one test in order to earn college admission takes a toll on adolescents. School districts taking precautions because students often get sick over standardized tests displays the taxing effects of these examinations. Naturally, exams need to be given to measure how well students understand the material being taught, but a drastic increase in the use of standardized testingRead MoreThe Shortcomings of Standardized Testing1636 Words   |  7 PagesSince the U.S. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind program, standardized testing has become the norm for American schools. Under this system, each child attending a school is required to take a standardized test at specific grade points to assess their level of comprehension. Parents, scholars and all stakeholders involved take part in constant discussions over its effectiveness in evaluating students’ comp rehension, teachers’ competency and the effects of the test on the education system. ThoughRead MoreStandardized Testing Influece on Education1302 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized Testing: A standardized test refers simply to any test that is being given in the same manner to all test takers. This same manner implies same questions, same timing, and same conditions of testing. The history of standardized testing dates for more than 14 centuries now. First standardized tests are claimed to be used for imperial examinations in China around the 7th century. However, It’s not until the 19th century that this testing methodology was first introduced to Europe and thenRead MorePros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1647 Words   |  7 Pagesare being educated. Therefore , standardized testing was made to see how much intelligence a person has on a topic .However standardized tests don’t measure how people learn in a classroom . standardized testing is not a good way to test students because tests don’t measure an individual intelligence , tests should not be used to determine funding for school , the teachers cheat on the tests to protect the students ,a nd its ethically wrong to give a lot of standardized tests to kids . TeachersRead More The Pass Fail System of Standardized Tests Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pass Fail System of Standardized Tests Standardized tests have historically been used as measures of how students compare with each other or how much of a particular curriculum they have learned. Increasingly, standardized tests are being used to make major decisions about students, such as grade promotion or high school graduation, and schools. More and more often, they also are intended to shape the curriculum and instruction. Students across America have had to repeat classesRead MoreTest Anxiety And Performance That Indicate A Relationship Between Anxiety, Preparation And Test Performance927 Words   |  4 Pagesfocus on test anxiety in relation to graduate level standardized testing in relation to the current DSM-5 edition as well as considering it in general having implications if pervasive of becoming a chronic condition that can take the form of an anxiety disorder. Graduate Level Standardized Testing In the field of psychology there are numerous standardized tests in which the graduate and professional will encounter. The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is the most common required admissions testRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1511 Words   |  7 PagesOver the years the educational system has faced various controversial issues, but the most recent one making a negative impact on students, is standardized testing. Standardized testing is a type of testing used to evaluate students academic abilities . It is a way to measure if standards are being met but does not provide a variation in the type of administration based on the students needs (Sacks, 2000). In other words, all children are provided these test to track their learning progress basedRead MoreThe Limitations Of Standardized Testing940 Words   |  4 PagesThe necessity for standardized testing has continuously been a widely held debate amongst educational professional. Individuals have argued whet her standardized testing is the appropriate technique to measure educational requirements since the 1800’s. Standards validate all schools are teaching on a similar level, and ascertain students are given an equal opportunity to excel in the future. However, people contend standardized testing drive teachers to teach merely to take a test and not teachRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Attentional Act1333 Words   |  6 Pagesmay have a personal story, or more knowledge over another student that would help to answer questions on the test. There is no way to change the ACT and SAT to guarantee fairness in every situation. Standardized tests promoted change in schools beyond the way students learn. Standardized testing has changed the way teachers act around their students. Some teachers want their students to succeed so much so that they will do whatever it takes, even if that means they do something that is unethical