The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

standardized tests is that they lack a level of comprehension and are incapable of succeeding in the educational system. This belief is especially prevalent in regards to high stakes tests such as college entrance and high school graduation exams because the focus is on the test score. The perception is that these scores are the sole indicator of the student’s knowledge of a subject and their ability to succeed at a higher level of education. Therefore,

One of the biggest topics in the educational world is standardized tests. All fifty states have their own standards following the common core curriculum. There are many positives and negatives that go with the standardized tests. A standardized test is any type of “examination that's administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner” (Popham, 1999). These standardized tests are either aptitude tests or achievement tests. Schools use achievement tests to compare students.

Most of the problems with standardized tests come from the fact that the performance on one test usually determines graduation, or admission to university, or job promotion. Thus, standardized testing appears to be a tool designed for these high stakes uses. Whether or not the tool is useful is determined by two things: its design and the job that we ask it to do.

In the contemporary American education system high-stakes standardized testing has resulted in a focus on extensive test preparation, as well as a large increase in the numbers of teachers cheating by alternating their students' test scores. Both these phenomena are a direct consequence of the incentives and punishments directly linked to standardized test results.

The goal of this report is to look at the Atlanta Public Schools standardized-test cheating scandal- particularly the motivation for cheating, the effects it had on students, and the response from the school district.

Standardized Testing can be both a benefit to the educational community and a very serious problem. Standardized Testing is said to have negative effects on both the students and the teachers. Standardized Testing has created many problems and has become a very big factor in politics. Some people argue that the government is influencing the education system. While others believe that the government isn’t involved enough. There are many pros and cons to both but the cons outnumber the pros.

For instance, “A June 2006 Public Agenda survey of 1,342 public school students in grades 6-12 found that 71% of students think the number of tests they have to take is “about right” and 79% believe test questions are fair” (Education Insights). This shows that many students believe in the idea of these tests. These tests also create a harder way for teachers to be biased against students due to the machinery grading the tests. These tests seem like the easiest and fairest way to go when including the idea that all students would be tested over the same curriculum and the same questions along with the same time allowed and creating a harder way for students to cheat. For example, It prevents subjective grading. This helps eliminate marking bias and ensures rationale behind each test question” (“Pros & Cons of Standardized Tests”). This is also one of the easiest ways to test such a large crowd. The ACT and SAT are the fastest, easiest and most cost efficient forms of standardized test that examine students on their current level of education on behalf of their acceptance into those colleges. These test are able to test students mental strength and endurance. These tests are still being proven to this day why it is still the most used testing form word wide.

High-test taking has initiated major controversy. For example, it will hold many relevant significances for students, teachers, and schools. The score of a student who took the uniform test will determine whether that student will advance to the next academic level or not. Meaning either going to the next grade level or a senior testing to get into college. Furthermore, the failure of the student(s) will also lead to the blaming of the teacher or educator, resulting in discharging them from their job or closing of the school. Subsequently, educators prefer to replace these tests with collections of students work throughout the year, like portfolios. Another disagreement of these

The decisions made from students test scores are ones that will not only effect their future as students, but individuals as well. Decisions like which students pass or fail, what teachers or fired or given raises and how funds are to be allocated amongst schools. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their socioeconomic background. As a result of exploring different claims of the standardized testing being biased,

Joseph Joubert, a wise French writer, once stated, “It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debate.” Although this was stated years ago, his wise words are still relevant today. Standardized testing is just one of the many topics causing great controversy among society. The reason behind this uproar is due to the contradicting opinions of government officials, school district administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Each group has different opinions they are passionate about, however the central argument is whether or not standardized testing should continue to be used as an evaluation tool.

With such high stakes involved, standardized testing has become less about the student’s progression, and more about the survival of the educational institution itself. Legislations such as No Child Left Behind and Race to The Top have resulted in the very thing they have tried to overcome. Children who score low are being left behind due to instances of teacher intervention during testing or exclusion, and students who excel in schools are being developmentally held back with curriculums being narrowed to focus on the tested materials to ensure they pass as

Over the years, many have debated over the fairness and reliability of standardized tests. This dispute not only impacts students, but also teachers and administrators, many of whose jobs are placed on the line when test scores come back. Some say that these tests should be done away with while others argue that they are necessary for determining knowledge gained in the classroom. Another argument for tests is that they place students that may not have the same opportunities on a level playing field. The ACT, SAT, and other similar tests are the best way to test not only content knowledge, but also students’ ability to perform under pressure, a necessary ability needed to succeed in college and the workforce.

Standardized testing has been around for a long time and recently, these tests are on the rise. One of the main reasons why standardized testing has become so popular is because these tests provide a fair chance to all individuals. These tests assess students based on a set of consistent questions that feature “multiple-choice or open-ended questions” pulled from similar content areas (Concordia Online Education, 2016, p. 1). Therefore, standardized tests are not biased and are objective in nature. Not only are the questions consistent, but educators have no influence whatsoever when it comes to standardized tests.

However, it seems that all money being poured into this specific industry is a waste, because there is no method to determining whether the child has a genuine understanding of what he or she is being tested on, or if his or her knowledge is enhanced by a form of cheating. In March of 2013, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing issued a report claiming that 37 states nationwide were noted to be cheating on standardized tests. The cheating not only comes from students who feel pressured to excel academically, but also from teachers who want to reap the benefits of their students who perform well on the tests. The added bonus that teachers receive encourages them to help students achieve a certain grade on the standardized tests. In 2015, a major standardized cheating scandal came to light when an Atlanta jury convicted 11 teachers of helping students cheat on their tests. Through this specific example, it is evident that the scores of standardized tests are often enhanced, making them pointless when using them to help decipher a child's

Standardized tests are tests performed in countries all over the world. All while these tests have been administered, there has been a huge controversy. That controversy is: are these tests really helpful, or do they just hurt everyone?