Standardized Testing

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The use of standardized testing is a heavily discussed topic in the US. Standardized tests are tests that are administered and scored in a consistent or “standard” manner. They have been and are currently being used in the US to provide a cut and dry, black and white, display of a person’s knowledge of basic subjects taught in elementary school through high school. Examples of such tests include state-made final exams, benchmarks, the SAT and ACT. These scores are often a main factor in college applicants’ acceptance rates and eventually rates of employment. This testing system simply does not judge or show how educated a person is in fair way. Standardized tests cannot fairly measure the educational experience, they make other learning obsolete …show more content…
One being that the tests hold all teachers of a course to the same standards. If teachers are given the same curriculum, the same amount of time, and the same resources then the standardized tests reflect whether the teacher did his/her job well. Also, the tests provide a way for colleges and other organizations to compare students’ scores as if they are on the same playing field. Each test collects information from the student individually about race, ethnicity, family income, residence, and where they place among students in their school by GPA. This information helps federal and state organizations develop programs to better equip teachers and students that have specific and demanding …show more content…
The tests may appear to “hold teachers accountable”, but there are teachers of core classes that either do not teach all the curriculum or they teach it in a way that most students cannot understand the objective. Yet they remain employed year after year at the same school and students are forced to have a score reflecting a teacher who is not truly being held accountable. The tests may also appear to “keep students on the same playing field” but it is unfair to obtain information about race, ethnicity, family income and residence. Apparently, the test uses that information to help students of certain home situations, which may sound great, but does not level out the playing field. Standardized testing is not a fair, realistic, or helpful way of determining a person’s potential to do well in college or
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