Argumentative Essay On Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is a widely debated topic; there are varying opinions on it. Some people believe that standardized tests can be used to prepare students for college and help them succeed in the future. Others contend that standardized tests are biased and inaccurate, and do not measure student knowledge accurately. This essay will attempt to prove that test-makers need to update standardized tests to provide a more unbiased and relevant test for all students.

First off, standardized tests are made for wealthier students. According to Abagail Johnson Hess, a writer for CNBC, students from families earning more than $200,000 a year average a combined score of 1,714 on the SATs and ACTs, while students from families earning under $20,000

This bias can lead to inaccurate assessments of a student’s abilities and potential for success in college. The bias in standardized tests is not limited to socioeconomic factors. Young Whan Choi, Manager of Performance Assessments at the Oakland Unified School District in California, provides a telling example from his 10th-grade classroom. One of his students was puzzled by a prompt asking students to write about the qualities of someone who would deserve a “key to the city.” “Many of my students, nearly all of whom qualified for free and reduced lunch, were not familiar with the idea of a ‘key to the city. Wealthy kids, who would be more familiar with a “key to the city,” tend to have higher standardized test scores due to differences in brain development caused by factors such as “access to enriching educational resources, and… exposure to spoken language and vocabulary early in life,” (ProCon.org). This example highlights how standardized tests can be biased toward students with certain cultural backgrounds or experiences. It underscores the importance of ensuring that test questions are culturally relevant and accessible to all

An article about the pros and cons of standardized testing refers to Keri Rodrigues, Co-founder of the National Parents Union. She states, “If I don’t have testing data to make sure my child’s on the right track, I’m not able to intervene and say there is a problem and my child needs more. And the community can’t say this school is doing well, this teacher needs help to improve, or this system needs new leadership… It’s really important to have a statewide test because of the income disparity that exists in our society. (...) Testing is a tool for us to hold the system accountable to make sure our kids have what they need,”(ProCon.org). Statewide testing is an essential component of our education system. It provides parents with critical information about their child’s academic progress, helps to address income disparity, and serves as a tool for holding the education system accountable. While some may argue that standardized tests cause more harm than good to students because of stress, it’s worth mentioning that standardized tests can help teachers to identify students who may require additional support or resources. As noted by the National Education Association, “standardized tests can help identify students who are at risk of falling