The Downfalls Of Standardized Testing Essay - 1221 Words

The Downfalls of Standardized Testing A high school student wakes up knowing today is the big test day. It will determine whether he graduates and has the chance to go to college. At the turn of the first page, his stomach drops; his best subject is not even covered on the test. If this is true for many students across the nation, why and how are standardized tests able to measure their capabilities? Testing has consumed the time and attention of schools, teachers, and students. It has controlled classroom curriculum, changed the nature of teaching, and has decreased critical thinking: an essential for students heading into any career. Standardized testing should not be used for student learning assessment because it has a narrow accuracy of student abilities and limits the education in classrooms. Standardized testing only skims the surface of a student’s knowledge, inaccurately assessing student proficiency. Harvard Political Review journalist Quinn Mullholland points out ju st three to ten percent of students are assessed using deep questions. Research shows that results of common, low level questions are heavily affected by extenuating circumstances such as the amount of sleep a student gets and even their socioeconomic background (20). The superficial questions not only depend on student circumstances; they create a shallow type of learning. In one educational newspaper it was found that â€Å"†¦elementary students were classified as†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢superficially’ engaged if they justShow MoreRelatedStandardized Testing : A Gateway Of Opportunities And Successes For Many Scholarship Bound Students821 Words   |  4 Pages Ogechi Nwokonko Mr. Marshall English 1301 11/12/2014 Researched Argument Although standardized testing was a gateway of opportunities and successes for many scholarship bound students, it was also the downfall in the educational system today. How can we define standardized testing? According to the Edglossary, state testing can be defined as a test that: â€Å"requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way, and thatRead MoreStandardized Testing And High School Education888 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Standardized testing has swelled and mutated†¦to the point that it now threatens to swallow our schools whole† (Kohn, 2000). Comparing standardized testing to a swelling monster that is taking over the school systems is a bit of a reach but there is some weight to this statement. Standardized tests have become so frequent in elementary and high school education that they have become the most important tool that is used by school boards and colleges to determine a student’s achievements, but howRead MoreStandardized Testing : Standardized Tests1186 Words   |  5 Pages Standardized Testing Impact Standardized testing is known to improve students’ education, but is it really needed in school? Standardized testing determines whether a student is prepared for the next grade based on their test scores. While some students do great on their test others struggle a lot. Not all students are good test takers; majority of the students do good in school but struggle when it comes down to testing. While many agree that standardized testing helps improve studentsRead MoreAmerica s Educational System Must Improve Nationally By Removing Standardized Testing1287 Words   |  6 Pageseducational system could improve nationally by removing standardized testing. American has recognized some of the flaws the education system has presented and chose to fix them; however, one of these problems has been standardized testing, which has not been identified nor changed. Standardized testing inflicts many problems to students that need to be fixed immediately. From inefficient teachers to poo rer school systems, standardized testing needs to change because it deteriorates America’s educationRead More The Controversy of Standardized Testing Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe Controversy of Standardized Testing â€Å"No issue in the U.S. Education is more controversial than (standardized) testing. Some people view it as the linchpin of serious reform and improvement, others as a menace to quality teaching and learning† (Phelps). A tool that educators use to learn about students and their learning capabilities is the standardized test. Standardized tests are designed to give a common measure of a student’s performance. Popular tests include the SAT, IQ tests, RegentsRead 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 unethicalRead MoreStandardized Test Scores An Accurate Representation Of A Student s Abilities1735 Words   |  7 PagesAre standardized test scores an accurate representation of a student s abilities? Standardized tests can be found at any level of a student’s academic career, but are they accurate indicators of a student’s academic abilities? Standardized tests are used to measure a student s academic abilities, and overall knowledge. In theory, a student s skills can be determined by examining the limited data collected from the test. However, standardized test do not fully represent a student s abilitiesRead MoreCommon Core State Standards ( Naics )1208 Words   |  5 Pagescomputers at home. â€Å"Our state testing providers first surveyed the districts about their hardware and acknowledged that many schools were simply not going to be able to afford to upgrade.† (Stephens 32 -33). Stephens is referring to the state of Alabama, where she lives and attended school. In this article she discuss online testing and its downfalls. The obvious and most pressing issue is that a lot of school or even whole states just can’t afford to transition in to onli ne testing. She also mentions theRead MoreThe Decline Of American Education1251 Words   |  6 Pagesstandard or to push students to surpass their potential? The downfall of American education is a result of the narrow minded focus on standardized testing, the nation’s lazy culture, and rising poverty levels. The dependence on standardized tests has depreciated education by taking attention away from school curriculum. These mandatory tests, unfortunately, â€Å"are being used in high-stakes ways to evaluate and punish teachers† (Strauss). Standardized tests create quotas that are required to be met and forceRead MoreSingle Sex Schools Should Be Taught1424 Words   |  6 Pagesblurring lines of the boring and distasteful downfall of single sex schools are the uptick in student minds that these administrations manipulate to enhance one s learning experience. In this great controversy the side to argue for is undeniable; the fact that students learn better in all boys and all girls’ schools is significantly proven and expressed within public surveys, standardized testing and observation of each classroom environment. Standardized tests are the easiest way to seek out