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    of 4

    EDU 310

    11/19/24
    Kaylee Dore

    Standardized Testing

    Oftentimes parents and students just get notified when testing is starting in their

    classroom but don’t take some time to dive into standardized testing. “Standardized testing is a

    method of assessment built on the principle of consistency: all test takers are required to answer

    the same questions and all answers are graded in the same, predetermined way” (Top Hat). The

    problem I have as well as many other people have with standardized testing is how effective

    these tests truly are. Why do we force our kids and students to sit down for hours and take these

    tests? Are these tests beneficial to students or just beneficial for funding purposes only? In this

    essay I will explore the background of standardized testing, the positive and negative effects

    related to testing, and different alternatives for standardized testing.

    “Tests have been a fixture in America’s education since the decades of the 20th century,

    when they were used to make decisions about matters such as promotion to the next grade level,

    graduation in college mission (Ravitch). In the early 20th century, IQ tests were introduced. By

    the mid 20th century, standardized tests were made to assess students' performances in the

    United States. Standardized tests were introduced during the same time of the SAT and ACT for

    college admissions (Madaus). During this time many people thought that standardized tests

    would help prepare students for the SAT and ACT tests in order to get into college.

    Advocates for standardized testing argue that these tests provide an objective measure of

    students' performances. One of the major advantages of standardized tests is that these tests

    allow for comparisons across different schools and districts. Although this may not seem like a

    major deal, in reality being able to compare test scores across different schools and districts helps
    identify areas in need of improvement within each school. Advocators like these tests because

    they are given under nearly identical testing conditions, and are graded by a machine or blind

    reviewer (Aaron). This doesn’t allow any room for any error like favoritism or leniency. These

    tests are intended to provide an accurate, unfiltered measure of what a student knows.

    Standardized tests also hold schools accountable for student outcomes, motivating educators to

    enhance their teaching methods (Linn). Additionally, standardized testing can serve as a tool for

    identifying gifted students who may require additional support.

    Despite its advantages, standardized testing has several major disadvantages. Critics

    argue that these tests fail to capture a student's full academic abilities as they tend to emphasize

    memorization and specific content knowledge leaving behind critical thinking and problem

    solving skills. On top of all of these disadvantages, such high stakes associated with these tests

    lead to unnecessary stress for students, educators, administrators and parents. There is also

    concern that standardized testing unfairly affects students from marginalized backgrounds. “As a

    result of the pressure to raise test scores, cheating has taken place in many different forms and on

    all levels, but mostly in schools serving low income, minority students” (Tienken). Students feel

    so much pressure to do well on these tests they are doing everything possible even if it means

    cheating especially students who struggle more and need extra help but don’t get it. Not to

    mention that emphasizing these standardized tests puts more pressure on the teachers to teach

    based on these tests and narrows the curriculum due to the high stakes of these tests. Lastly,

    many people feel that standardized testing is so emphasized so their school gets more funding

    and doesn’t lose any funding. This puts a lot of pressure on teachers and administrators as they

    don’t want to lose any resources.


    Given all the concerns surrounding standardized testing, many alternatives have been

    proposed. One approach is doing performance-based assessments, this would have students

    doing projects, portfolios and presentations. This allows for a more comprehensive

    understanding of a student's knowledge while encouraging the development of critical thinking

    (Wiggins). This also gives the students some creativity while still showing their knowledge.

    Another alternative proposed is formative assessments. This involves constant feedback and

    evaluation throughout the learning process. This promotes continuous learning and growth while

    allowing teachers to Adjust based on their students' needs. Some people even advocate for

    standardized testing but with a combination of other evaluation methods to give a more overall

    view of the students' performance.

    In conclusion, while standardized testing has been Very important for educational

    assessments, its effectiveness remains in question. The objective nature of standardized tests can

    allow comparisons, accountability and unfiltered measurements of what a student knows, the

    disadvantages such as stress, inequality, and lack of focus on content knowledge raises major

    concern. So, the big question that will never be able to be answered but provokes many different

    thoughts is: Do standardized tests accurately represent students and are they truly beneficial? As

    the educational system continues to evolve, it is important and critical that educators continue to

    explore and use alternative assessment methods that better capture students' learning.
    Work Cited

    Standardized test definition and meaning (2019) Top Hat. Available at:
    https://tophat.com/glossary/s/standardized-test/ (Accessed: 30 November 2024).

    Wiggins, G. (1990). *The Meaning of Performance Assessment*. Educational Leadership, 48(5),


    19-25.

    Madaus, G. F. (1988). *The Influence of Testing on the Curriculum*. In *Curriculum


    Development in the Postmodern Era*.

    Linn, R. L. (2000). *Assessment and Accountability*. Educational Policy Analysis Archives,


    8(1).

    Tienken, C.H., & Zhao, Y. (2013). How common standards and standardized testing widen
    the opportunity gap. In P.L. Carter & K.G. Welner (eds.) Closing the opportunity gap:
    What America must do to give every child an even chance (pp. 11-22). Oxford.
    Ravitch, D. (2010). The trouble with accountability. In The death and life of the great
    American school system (pp. 149-168). Basic Books.

    Churchill, A. and Murray, J. (no date) Bless the tests: Three reasons for standardized
    testing, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Available at:
    https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/bless-tests-three-reasons-standardized-te
    sting (Accessed: 30 November 2024).

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