Standardized Testing

By: Jessica Lusky

I came across an article that discussed the pros and cons of standardized testing in America. I have never been a good test taker so these tests have always been very frustrating and difficult for me to preform well on. I have never believed that standardized tests are an accurate representation of an individuals understanding, but this article brought up a few things that I haven't thought about.


The first pro that stood out to me explains that standardized tests are inclusive and non-discriminatory because they are given in the same manner to all students and ensure content is equivalent. While creating alternate tests for students of minorities or with disabilities would not be fair, it is challenging for the creators to ensure that the equivalent content is taught to all students taking the exam in the same depth. The next pro that really caught my attention talks about how the tactic “teaching to the test” can actually be beneficial. Instead of leaving out information, it focuses the curriculum on essential content and skills. Lastly, these more strict standards and increased testing are preparing students for college better. In 1998, 66% of professors said that elementary and high school do not expect students to learn enough. After an increase in testing, that percentage was lowered to 47%(Standardized Test - ProCon.org).


A few specific cons caught my eye and really expressed some of my feelings towards the controversy. First, in May of 2011 National Research Council report found no evidence that standardized testing has improved student achievement. In fact, from 2002 to 2009 the United States math performance went from 18th to 31st place in the world, there was a similar drop in science, and no chance in reading. The next con I was focused on stated that standardized tests are not a reliable measure of student presentation. A study done in 2001 found that 50-80% of year-to-year improvements were caused by fluctuations that did not relate to any long-term changes in learning. Finally, the article noted that there is a sever increase in younger student stress levels because of standardized testing according to an education researcher(Standardized Test - ProCon.org).


Although many people have differing views and reasoning behind whether or not they support standardized testing, there is research behind both sides. I personally do not support standardized testing, but this article opened my eyes to a few pros I have not thought about in the past. I am curious to see if this issue will become an even larger topic of conversation in the future of the education field and if any changes will be made.



Source:
“Standardized Test - ProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2017.