ipl-logo

Argumentative Essay About Standardized Testing

584 Words3 Pages

Nearly every student both in Cedar Park as well as across the country can relate to the nag of the upcoming testing season at the end of every school year. Standardized testing, typically in the form of state testing, college admission tests, and AP testing, “is designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and their ability to apply that knowledge and skill” (Texas Educational Agency). My initial research on this topic brought me to the quote “[standardized testing has] created a definition of success and achievement using very limited metrics” (Camhi). As a student myself this raised many questions but most importantly the question that will be guiding this essay; how can standardized testing be improved and what alternatives …show more content…

More and more of society has begun to question and reconsider these tests, especially after the 2020 pandemic caused a massive number of schools to shut down and allowed very few students to take any of the tests in the 2019-2020 school year, which also caused lasting effects into the 2020-2021 school year. Further, several parents have complained that “[students] spend too much time on state testing and the stakes are too high” (“The Truth About Standardized Testing In Texas – Texas Business Leadership Council”). The State of Texas has taken the feedback into account and has begun to edit their state testing, STAAR, process. At the University of Massachusetts Lowell, professor Lauren Turner emphasized “education is the great equalizer, but the SAT is a barrier to access. It became this fiery hoop you had to jump through … some kids test well and some kids don’t test well, but the SAT is not an accurate indicator of intelligence or a student’s likelihood of success in college” (Wesnofske and Webster). Thus far, a few proposed alternatives have sparked interest such as portfolio observation, social skill surveys, game-based tests assessment to test problem-solving, and assessing over multiple measures, with more substitutes to come (University of the

Show More
Related
958 Words | 4 Pages

During the 19th century there were a series of reform movements that occurred. Some of these reformation movements included; the Women’s Right Movement, Abolitionism (Slavery), The Romantic Art Movement and many more. The 19th century Romantic Art Movement was a time that artists and writers allowed nature to have a heavy influence on their works. In the 19th century, Thomas Cole was a romantic artist that expressed nature through his works. Some of these works include, The Voyage of Life, Romantic Landscape with Ruined Tower, and The Subsiding of Waters of the Deluge.

Read More
1597 Words | 7 Pages

The state of Texas has been in a constant struggle within itself over just how to evaluate education, and standardized testing in Texas has been a major influencer in terms of the state’s standards for over thirty years. Though these methods of testing have been utilized for decades, resentment to the tests have been continuously rising among educators, parents, and students, but not everyone agrees. Despite government officials trying to quell these protests with changes to administration, and the way the test itself is formatted and formulated, there seems to have been little to no improvement made and those opposing the tests have started calling for an end to all standardized testing. For one to truly understand this ongoing struggle, one must first look at standardized testing’s beginning, then how government today is trying to fix the broken system, and finally consider the opinions of notable figures in the testing world.

Read More
1229 Words | 5 Pages

Standard testing is a very controversial and important subject because it deals with the progression of the American education system. The practice of these assessments has been highly scrutinized not only for the way it has changed the format of classrooms, but also for its accuracy, pressure, and abundance. In 2001, standardized testing became federally mandated through the No Child Left Behind Act by former president George Bush Jr. According to research from the Council of the Great City Schools, students have been taking “an average of 113 tests from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade” (K. Hefling). These numbers have increased to the point where parents have opted for their children to not attend standardized exams.

Read More
1749 Words | 7 Pages

Introduction Standardized tests may be used for a wide variety of educational purposes. For example, they may be used to determine a young child’s readiness for kindergarten, identify students who need special-education services or specialized academic support, place students in different academic programs or course levels, or award diplomas and other educational certificates. Thesis Statement Standardized tests should not be eliminated completely, but should rather be evaluated in addition to other factors such as grades, extracurricular activities, and volunteer hours. This would take pressure off of students during standardized tests, allow colleges to see how well-rounded the students are, and give students who are better in other areas

Read More
1130 Words | 5 Pages

Even though many students absolutely hate them, state assessments are a big part of the American education system. Everyone has taken a standardized test at some point in their life, and almost everyone has done poorly on one. They are primarily used as a measurement of how well students learn, but are they truly accurate? There are strong arguments on both sides, which has started a heated conflict about the productiveness of these tests. Standardized testing has been around for many years, starting in Imperial China where it was intended to determine a person’s aptitude for a government position (“Do Standardized Tests Show an Accurate View of Students’ Abilities?”).

Read More
1229 Words | 5 Pages

Going Against the Standard According to Tim Walker, “Only 14% of parents say standardized testing is important in measuring school effectiveness” (Walker). A standardized test is a test that is given in a consistent or “standard” manner. Standardized tests are designed to have consistent questions, administration procedures, and scoring procedures. When a standardized test is administered, it is done so according to certain rules and specifications so that testing conditions are the same for all test takers. They often provide some type of “standard score” which can help interpret how far a child score ranges from the average student (Johnson).

Read More
895 Words | 4 Pages

Standardized tests are very common in today’s modern society. They are used as a tool to measure a person’s performance and indicate how their estimated performance will be in a college class. Every year hundreds of students take the ACT or SAT in order to get accepted into their college of choice and to receive scholarships, but they fail to see the problems with these standardized tests. As more and more people take these tests, the national average score falls causing doubt in the extremely important system. This is leading people to question whether or not the ACT and SATs are accomplishing what they were created to do.

Read More
647 Words | 3 Pages

In fact, the increasing use of standardized testing will do more damage than good, because of its failure to capture the entirety of a student’s body of work. Furthermore, the overwhelming stress that the United States government, and school systems have placed on the usage of standardized tests has become detrimental to American education, and is not the most effective way to gauge the intelligence of American students. The American educational system should be fixated on providing each child enough attention and information so they can succeed in that class and in the future. However, the increasing focus on having to pass a standardized test has blinded schools of the real goal, because they are required to get their students to pass the standardized tests.

Read More
1616 Words | 7 Pages

These assessments, which consider a wider range of skills and information than traditional standardized tests, can provide a more thorough understanding of a student's abilities. The administration of these assessments could cost more time and resources, and the scoring could be flawed or inaccurate. Although these problems may arise, it could be a better alternative than having to use standardized tests. Lastly, schools should revert to test-optional policies like they did in 2020. Caralee J. Adams, who wrote “College-Entrance Testing: ‘Defining Promise: Optional Standardized Testing Policies in American College and University Admissions’”, said that a new study found that there were "’no significant differences’ between the college grades and completion rates of students who submit ACT or SAT scores with their college applications and those who do not” (Adams pp.1).

Read More
1341 Words | 6 Pages

These people argue that standardized tests are objective and reliable for checking on students’ educational development; in addition, standardized tests serve as a guideline for what students need. The Office of Work/Life claims that “Standardized tests provide teachers with guidance for what and when something needs to be taught” (Columbia University). As a result, they make it easy to check student’s progress and make sure they’re getting the knowledge they need. Although teachers may be held accountable, Retired teacher, Marion Brady, emphasizes that “minimal to no useful feedback” is given (The complete list). Results from standardized tests are given as numbers, not feedback.

Read More
733 Words | 3 Pages

The fact that standardized test can decide one’s future intensifies the pressure bestowed on a high school student. Many people have different opinions towards these type of exams, ranging from college admissions required to use these exams for their admission process to some arguing against these exams not being an accurate measure of one’s true potential. Standardized testing in the college admissions process does not clearly emphasize a student’s knowledge and intelligence. I believe that these exams should not remain as an important factor in admissions decisions. The elimination of exam scores will create a fair admissions process, it will also help those who can’t afford the price these exams can cost, and will relieve the stress of many students.

Read More
1051 Words | 5 Pages

People argue that standardized testing detracts from genuine learning and that the emphasis on test scores results in an overly narrow focus on math and reading, neglecting other crucial areas of education, such as social studies, science, and the arts. While it is true that some educators may prioritize teaching according to the test, this is not a flaw inherent in standardized testing but rather a failure of teaching practices. The use of standardized testing does not inherently prevent teachers from providing a well-rounded education that incorporates multiple subjects and fosters critical thinking and creativity, but rather, it is up to teachers to create a balance between test preparation and other broader learning objectives. Moreover, standardized testing provides an objective measure of student achievement and can identify areas where students need additional support. The data provided by these tests can inform instructional decisions and help teachers target their instruction to address areas where students struggle.

Read More
1025 Words | 5 Pages

As a student in high school did you ever feel like the standardized test are helping you or making you get in to a better college? Have you ever thought about how many hours students and teachers spend preparing for the standardized test? Many hours and studying are being put into those test but are they really effective and are the test doing the students good in life? Standardized tests are really just to effective, teachers and students spend too much time on them and it’s not doing the students any good, and even it’s not doing the teachers any good. Standardized tests in schools today in Ohio should be stopped because they are causing for teachers to be evaluated by the test results of how the students do on the tests, they are having the students more stressed about school and do they benefit you in colleges and university and do they really look at how well students do on them test.

Read More
919 Words | 4 Pages

Student Sudhanshu Pandey, was a happy, normal teenage boy who didn’t look like he would succumb into depression. On march 4, Sudhanshu seemed unusually reluctant to go school. Later than day his parents found him in his room hanging from the ceiling fan. Sudhanshu left a note, explaining how all the pressure and stress in his life from test exams has taken over. Not only has Sudhanshu Pandey been depressed and stressed from testing, its all over the world.

Read More
1098 Words | 5 Pages

A standardized test, according to W. James Popham of ASCD.org, is “any examination that is administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.” In standardized testing, examinees are instructed to precisely answer a specific set of questions, which are usually multiple-choices. Although standardized testing is believed to be an objective method to grade students, administers should understand that these tests are not only a waste of time, but also a waste of money. Standardized testing is irrelevant to a student’s education because it is an unreliable way to measure a student’s knowledge, causes stress, and hinders a student’s overall learning potential.

Read More

More about Argumentative Essay About Standardized Testing

Related Topics

Open Document