Standardized Tests and Their Controversial Usefulness

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Also, incorrectly made tests can forget to include analytical problems. By creating tests with obvious answers and including only multiple choices, students don’t have a need to analyze

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the questions. To add, students only memorize answers long enough to pass. Once they select the correct answer, they sometimes just “erase” it from their memory since the question was only asked in a simple form (3-4).

In addition to creating superficial thinkers, standardized tests sometimes underrepresent certain groups. What can cause this is the lack of accessible knowledge that some students can experience compared to other students who can easily access it. “ACT officials said their data show wide racial and ethnic gaps in college readiness, with African American, American Indian, and Hispanic students less prepared than their white and Asian counterparts” (Anderson 2). Could this gap be because Asian and Caucasian groups can access the knowledge and information better than the other groups?

To add, the University of California’s 1998 freshmen enrollment numbers dropped. They dropped because many of the racial groups were underrepresented by their SAT scores. The University’s African American enrollment dropped by more than sixty percent, and Latino enrollment dropped by nearly fifty percent. “We… have evidence that the SAT loses us 2,000 Latino students this year alone” (Zwick 1).

Not only do standardized tests sometimes underrepresent certain groups, they can also cause stress for educators and students. Teachers are sometimes greatly affected by the stress tests cause because of the specific deadlines they must meet. When a certain test is required to be given at a set date, teachers try to cram in as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time. This can stress the student out as well (Walberg 4).

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Also, the strict deciding factors from admission tests can stress out students as well. The admission test scores and other test scores are factored into college admissions. When students know they will either be accepted or not base on a number on a test, they tend to over-study and stress themselves out (Zwick 5).

Some people argue that standardized tests are useless and unnecessary “tools” that shouldn’t be required. They believe it induces stress in both the student and teacher. This, however, is a weak argument because tests actually teach time-management and good study habits that help to overcome and eliminate the stress. Along with teaching better time-management skills, standardized tests measure student achievement, encourage learning, and improve the curriculum and classroom instruction.

By requiring standardized testing, schools can effectively measure student achievement. The scores show just how well the student understands and grasps the material. If the student makes an A or a B then the school can assume the student knows what they are doing. However, if the student makes a D or an F then remediation can occur and aid the student. Also, tests can provide many insights to the student and their skills. Properly made tests should include many different questions that evaluate certain critical skills. Determining the student’s skills are made possible by these tests.

Just as testing measures student achievement, it also encourages learning. Because educators who give standardized tests insist on high scores, students spend more time studying for them. Studying is a great way for students to really grasp the material they learn in the classroom. Also, since students spend more time studying, they tend to do more constructive

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activities. Students tend to stay after school for a little extra help and engage more with teachers and other students. During study sessions they use their phones less and talk more with their parents and peers about the subject.

Not only do standardized tests encourage learning, but they also improve the curriculum and classroom instruction. They are able to do this by evaluating the scores they receive. If every student scores low enough, schools and educators are able to view which unit should be revised and how. This benefits the students and their education. Also, the strict layouts of the tests help to enforce the ways teachers teach it. Without the tests the teachers could teach in any way they like and leave out important material. This ensures that the student is taught and the teacher is effectively doing his or her job.

It is obvious to see how standardized tests are so controversial, but with extra research and carefully made tests, educators and schools can use these tests as the “tools” they are designed to be. Researchers, schools, and teachers should work to together to help improve upon these tests so that students and their education can benefit greatly from them.

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Works Cited

Adams, Caralee J. “College-Going: ‘The Maine Question: How Is Four-Year College Enrollment Affected by Mandatory College Entrance Exams?’”. Education Week 18 Feb. 2015: 5. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

Anderson, Nick. “ACT Testing Grows; Scores Stagnate.” Washington Post. 26 Aug. 2015: A.4. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Harris, Phillip, Joan Harris, and Bruce M. Smith. “Standardized Tests Do Not Effectively Measure Student Achievement.” Standardized Testing. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2015. At Issues. Rpt. From “Chapter 3: The Tests Don’t Measure Achievement Adequately.” The Myths of Standardized Tests: Why They Don’t Tell You What You Think They Do. 2011. 33-45. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Murphy, James S. “Don’t Overhaul the SAT Essay, Dump It.” Wall Street Journal. 15 Oct. 2014: A.17. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Sireci, Stephen G. “Standardized Testing is Useful.” Standardized Testing. Ed. Diane Andrews Henningfield. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Rpt. From “In Defense of Testing: Are Educational Tests Inherently Evil?” NERA Researcher (Feb. 2007). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Walberg, Herbert J. “Standardized Tests Effectively Measure Student Achievement.” Standardized Testing. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issues.