Should Standardized Testing Truly Measures The Academic...

There has recently been a debate regarding if standardized testing truly measures the academic capability of students or not. A standardized test is any form of an exam that requires all test takers to answer the same questions and that is scored in a consistent manner. Every student throughout his or her high school career will have to take at least one. A lot of the time people have the feeling that they are much smarter than what the test scores display, and many believe that the tests don’t represent any sort of academic ability. These academic tests are supposed to give everyone taking them a fair assessment of their intellect, and are not meant to obtain any bias or unfair advantages. Many of the tests given in high school are designed as indicators of college readiness and can present other factors, such as if a student should be allowed into a higher ability class or not. There are many reasons why these standardized test scores are not accurate models for exhibiting t he ability of a student academically. The end outcome of students’ grades on exams will ultimately reflect back on the educators of that course and how well they are teaching the material. For example, when students don’t score well on tests, it is often a bad reflection of how the teacher is doing his or her job. As many teachers are evaluated by how well their students do on these standardized tests, numerous teachers feel compelled to teach only what the test consists of rather than the actualShow MoreRelatedThe Culture of Testing Essays862 Words   |  4 Pagesstruggle for American students constantly throughout their academic career. Whether the test be the SAT or an annual state exam, students usually do not seem mentally prepared for the massive task at hand. A test like the SAT could possibly determine the immediate futures of these individuals. However, are these complex assessments successfully examining the academics of the student body? Students should no t be evaluated using standardized testing because they do not effectively measure a student’s completeRead MoreHarmful Effects of Standardized Testing939 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 1301 July 5, 2012 Standardized Testing A Fault in School Systems Standardized testing had become a norm throughout the entire nation. From grade level students to high school students, college admittances tests and post-secondary exams, tests have all been standardized. While it may seem like the most logical way of evaluating students, the problem with these tests is the way that students are now being prepared for them and what the scores are being used to measure. For some schools, theyRead MoreLimitations Of Standardized Test Scores1644 Words   |  7 Pagestime a student has reached their senior year of high school, they have taken a standardized test a great number of times in order to get the score to attend their college of choice. A standardized test is any exam that is given and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. The SAT and ACT are known as standardized aptitude tests (Popham). SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test and ACT stands for American College Testing. The SAT was first given in 1926 and the ACT followed in 1959. S tudents spendRead MoreAssessments Hold Schools, States and Nations Accountable Essay1439 Words   |  6 PagesReading Association, n.d.). This connotation would seem to contradict the uselessness of focused teacher-testing in today’s classroom during the major assessment phase of the school year. However, according to Johnson and Johnson (2002) and Steward (2004), they believe that assessments are useful in holding schools, states and nations, accountable throughout the educational process for student learning (as cited in Richardson, Morgan, Fleener, 2009). As many of us educators in this district knowRead MoreThe Efficiency Of Standardized Testing1544 Words   |  7 PagesThe Efficiency of Standardized Testing Diane Ravitch once said, â€Å"Sometimes, the most brilliant and intelligent minds do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds.† A standardized test is a test that is scored in a â€Å"standard† or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students. Standardized testing is a trend that has grown significantly over the last decade. These tests were intended toRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1458 Words   |  6 PagesEach year high school students from around the country take the SAT or ACT. The ACT and SAT are both standardized test used by colleges to determine the knowledge of a student and predict what their performance will be in their first year of college. An immense amount of pressure is put on student to receive certain scores in order to obtain scholarships and admission into college. Even just one point on a student’s score can determine if they will be accepted into their dream college. However,Read MoreStandardized Testing Controls Much Of The Academic Career Of A Student Essay1810 Words   |  8 Pages Standardized testing controls much of the academic career of a student. Today, tests such as the ACT and SAT determine the probability of getting into college while state tests such as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) serve as an assessment of preparedness toward the upcoming grade of learning. There is still controversy over the workings of standardized tests. While it does check the proper essentials needed to progress from gradeRead MoreThe Power Of The Human Brain1278 Words   |  6 Pagesintelligence partly because of the rapid development of the education system and a higher dependence on academic proficiency. Throughout many years, the education system is rapidly advancing. While the education system is advancing, so are the expectations of student development. In the 1700’s, only young boys were allowed into the education system to prepare for Ivy League colleges. With fewer schools, students during this time did not receive a proper education. This issue caused society to not expect asRead MoreACT Scores Research Paper1812 Words   |  8 PagesWhy Colleges Should Not Rely at ACT Scores â€Å"Like the global economy, today’s students are driven by ideas and innovations. They should not be reduced down to, or defined by, a single test score† (Schuler). In the present time, the majority of colleges look at one’s ACT score as the key to admitting the student into their institute of higher learning. A 24 minimum composite score on the ACT is a requirement to be accepted to most universities in the United States. This prerequisite is not fair toRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Woven Into Public Schools1786 Words   |  8 PagesStandardized tests are a requirement for students to pass in order to graduate high school and attend college. The hope behind standardized tests is that they cover a number of rudimentary concepts and processes, and reflect what students have learned in their classes under a strict evaluation scale. However, in reality, standardized testing is offering very finite and ineffective learning skills, which don’t prepare st udents for college. The result: high dropout rates and high remedial enrollment