Standardized Testing

Would you set up a person for failure on purpose? Would you judge a person by their tests scores of the few school subjects that are tested? Standardized tests are an inaccurate way to show some ones’ abilities, accomplishments, knowledge, and achievements. Standardized tests are not reliable for various reasons such as, they don’t show the work of the student meaning the student could just be really good guesser and not know the material at all. Because of these tests, students and teachers are pressured due to personal accomplishment and in the teachers’ case their salary depends on their students tests scores. “Standardized tests are reliable and objective measures of student achievement.” (Richard Phelps). Achievement is immeasurable as …show more content…
This causes less effective teaching and possible cheating. Research shows that “an excessive focus on basic math and reading scores can lead to narrowing and over simplifying the curriculum to only the subjects and formats that are tested, reducing the attention to history, the arts, civics, and foreign language, as well as to writing an more complex problem-solving tasks” (Eva L. Baker). This fact reveals that teachers change the material that they teach either by only teaching test answers or giving the students the lowest level of material they can so the students stay only in the boundaries of the tests. Whenever money is involved or someone’s’ reputation, a person will do whatever it takes to get the best possible results with doing the least amount of work. They will put themselves into a place where there is a greater chance for personal success, not caring how they are affecting others. “Tying teacher evaluation and sanctions to test score results can discourage teachers from wanting to work in schools with the neediest students.” (Eva L. Baker). “Surveys have that teacher attrition and demoralization has been associated with test-based accountability efforts. Particularly in high-need schools” (Eva L. Baker). These statements illustrate negative impacts from standardized testing. Teachers have begun to care more about the test scores than the individual. They …show more content…
“Students have been found to receive lower test scores when they are new English leaner’s, special education students, and low-income students, than those who are affluent and educationally advantaged”. (Richard Rothstein). This evidence reveals some of the constrictions, on students, that affect their testing abilities and test scores. Because of outside of the school situations, students are limited or not motivated to do their best. For someone not motivated because o f a problem outside of school, they get judged on their test scores as if they used all their knowledge whereas they didn’t because their other problems were more important or sever. This is unfair to the student and discourages them more because they feel like a failure in school and out school. “Studies show that 10% on average of students suffer from anxiety when given a test”.” Timed tests, a silent room, feeling of being evaluated, facing consequences of doing poorly, and social performance pressure do incapacitate their brains’ ability to recall information properly or function at a high level.” (Eva L. Baker). These statistics prove that one can be a poor test taker. Although they may ace their assignments, they can score significantly low on their tests simply because they are poor test takers. These students are incredibly

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