Argumentative Essay On Standardized Testing

749 Words3 Pages

The fluorescent lights cloud their vision as a sweat runs down the students head. Surrounded by others with the same pressure the student begins the overwhelming task filling the final bubble on the crowded test packet. Just like US students ranging from elementary to secondary schools the student undergoes the visceral task of completing standardized testing. Throughout the years the use of standardized tests has been questioned and debated on its accuracy of analyzing students. On one hand many argue that high scores on standardized testing is a reliable source to gauge a students quality and future endeavors meanwhile others explain that standardized testing isn’t an accurate scale to judge a student. The use of standardized tests is an …show more content…

An article titled “Rich students get better SAT scores-here’s why” written by multi-media reporter Abigail Johnson Hess explains that, “The cost to take the SAT during the 2018-2019 school year was about $47.50 for the basic test and $64.50 to take the test with the full essay section. To take an SAT subject test, students must pay a $26 registration fee, $22 for each additional test and $26 for each language test.”(Hess para.10). Due to the cost of standardized testing not every student can afford to take the test multiple times. Wealthier students have the resources to take standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT more than once which increase their scores compared to their peers. Considering that particular students can obtain higher scores than others; standardized testing cannot be an accurate measure of each student's …show more content…

This opposing argument claims that going through standardized testing can showcase students who excel academically. The ProCon article, ““Do Standardized Tests Improve Education in America?” also introduces the contrasting idea that, “Standardized tests can offer evidence of and promote academic rigor, which is invaluable in college as well as in students’ careers. Matthew Pietrafetta, PhD, Founder of Academic Approach, argues that the “tests create gravitational pull toward higher achievement.””(Britannica, Pro 4). Pietrafetta is conveying that achieving a higher score can showcase that a student has the drive to study and do well. It is very probable that students that have a drive to score high on standardized tests work harder than their peers to achieve the accomplishment. By showcasing this drive students express more of the skills needed to obtain better standing in life. Nonetheless, by only evaluating students who score high a person disregards students that express life traits that can’t apply to academic testing methods. A student's interest may outweigh their interest in academics; this doesn’t mean that they will fail in life. A student may display higher motivation for other subjects and skills such as public speaking or community service which can’t be illustrated by standard