Arguments Against Standardized Testing

Across the world there is a debate involving the subject of standardized testing. This issue has become increasingly prominent in the United States with the introduction of standardized tests in the 1960ś and -- in more recent years -- the integration of common core into our education system. This debate ranges on the scale of for or against the use/formatting of standardized tests with evidence largely centering around the education systems of other countries that have surpassed the United States in PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment ) rankings as well as mental health and the variety of cognitive ability levels that are ever present in large human populations. Ultimately, all arguments revert back to one idea that has been

This test form is completely objective and protects students from the objective grading that are often found in other test forms such as free response or essay questions. Outside of standardized tests, teachers can influence a student’s grade based on the teacher’s feelings toward said student. Grades on an essay question are also typically affected by content such as grammar, spelling, formatting, and/or handwriting [10]. The contrary opinion disagrees, stating that a teacher’s grading should be purely objective regardless of the style of test or assignment administered to a student. If it is subjective, it is in an effort that the student might succeed -- not fail. While no teacher is perfect, the goal is to eventually achieve objective grading with any testing

This reason stems from the fact that high-stakes testing is used to ensure that people such as doctors, lawyers, etc. have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out the duties of their occupation. Some disagree with starting similar testing at such a young age with students claiming that it raises adolescent stress and anxiety levels. In the 1980’s students ranging from grade school to college reported higher anxiety levels than child psychiatric patients in the 1950’s and these levels have only been rising over time [3]. Most people who hear those reports instantaneously connect the cause to being effects from the pressures of standardized testing. This, however, is not the case. While testing can contribute, most anxiety is based on a lack of social connectedness which in turn explains the rise in depression. Studying for a test may be a reason for some to lack that social connectedness but it is not generally the test itself that causes anxiety. Moreover, 95% of students say that they can either cope with the stress of test taking or that they don’t stress at all