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Arguments Against Standardized Testing

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Colleges and universities should not use academic success as the main factor in determining college admission because studies indicate that there is practically no difference in the scholastic performance of those who do and do not submit test scores. However, there is considerable evidence that multiple-choice tests and their scores, for some applicants, conceal more information about the applicant than they reveal. In this essay, I will discuss whether or not academic success should be the main determining factor in college admissions. I will also provide a personal opinion on the subject. Critics of standardized testing in college admissions say that standardized tests are no longer as good of an indicator of college success as once thought. The arguments against standardized testing indicate that testing is biased against certain groups, adds stress to both educators and students and impedes the assessment of very important skills. They adamantly believe that these tests have become, for some students at least, barriers to …show more content…

They also believe that this strongly biased .… at a time when diversity is critical to our society. In their opinion, wealthy students are essentially more prepared for standardized tests through better life experiences, such as first class schools and test prep tutors. These opponents also support the notion that testing adds too much stress to student and teachers alike. They suggest that students spend a lot of time stressing over the SAT/ACT when they could be focusing their energy on more important academic and social activities that could benefit them in the future. Lastly, those opposed to academic success as the main determining factor, believes that testing inhibits any sort of creative or unconventional thinking. This is important because this type of skill needed in college and in the

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793 Words | 4 Pages

In a country that promotes the ideas of grit, innovation, resourcefulness, and growth, I find it curious that American universities are still using standardized tests as an indicator of future success in college. Although standardized tests are only one factor in admissions to many colleges, they should not be used at all because they do not accurately predict the success of students in higher educational environments. Instead of using the SAT and ACT, admissions officers should put more weight on written essays, cumulative high school grade point average, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation when deciding admissions. Although some may argue that the SAT and ACT offer a way of ranking students without factoring in grade point average, their ability to predict the future success of college students has not been demonstrated.

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1776 Words | 8 Pages

But test prep is only part of the picture, with much of the test-score differential originating far before any student even thinks about standardized testing. From the beginning, Biamonte (2013) explains, students from higher-income families have more opportunities: they attend better, higher-funded schools with more rigorous curriculums, AP classes, and dual credit, all of which impact standardized test performance. Consequently, higher-income students have an advantage over their lower-income

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171 Words | 1 Pages

Ritual like the lottery can be held year after year, because sometime people are to ignorant to change their ways. However even if people know better, sometimes they still choose continuating their rituals because it’s always been done this way, so they will keep do it this way. However, people sometimes just enjoy ritual like there and just don’t want anything to change. Sometimes people choose not to speak up against act such as in ''The Lottery'' By Shirley Jackson because they are afraid of being single-out, and targeted, also its easier just to look the other way.

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1026 Words | 5 Pages

While the argument presents a great benefit for colleges across the united states, the testing scores fail to do justice to students because the scores do not represent the actual skills that the students need to succeed in college. To clarify, the SAT, particularly in the math section, tests students by how quick they can substitute an answer choice for a variable in the problem and not by how the students can critically think about a solution for a question. Therefore, the SAT fails as a proper indicator of skills necessary for success in college. In addition, this disadvantage in sat testing overwhelms the benefits that sat testing

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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

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935 Words | 4 Pages

In the history of modern colleges, the SAT has been the most widely accepted standardized test by students. The SAT was first introduced in 1926, and since then it has been used by millions of college applicants to demonstrate their academic prowess. Following the creation of the SAT, there have been countless debates on whether it should be scrapped or kept due to its potential to unfairly discriminate against students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and its possible lack of correlation with academic success. Every year, more schools begin to shift toward test-optional, while many schools continue to use mandatory standardized testing. To fully understand and agree on an answer to this debate, extensive research must be done, and students

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1602 Words | 7 Pages

For many years, there has been a great deal of controversies on whether standardized tests should be used for college admissions. Standardized testing started in America over 50 years ago and are today, more pressure-packed and ubiquitous than ever before. The first standardized test was developed in 1959 by Professor Everett Franklin Lindquist. Many admissions counselors depend on a student’s ACT and SAT scores a great deal when determining if they should accept the student or not. Though many feel that these tests are a good thing and should continue to be used, others disagree due to the numerous problems that have been discovered when reviewing students SAT and ACT scores.

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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.

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1604 Words | 7 Pages

The opportunity to learn is not given equally, and standardized test, including the SAT, reflects this. If one believes that opportunities are given equally to all and scores differ still, then it leaves room for discriminate against certain underperforming groups, labeling them as "not as intelligent" as others. Standardized testing uses other than college admissions include to advance grade levels, to evaluate schools, or to evaluate teachers. Although standardized tests have many uses in various fields, they all still have the same issues with bias. William G. Cunningham and Tiffany D. Sanzo comment, “All students cannot be held to the same standards unless programs and initiatives are developed to level the playing field.

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1683 Words | 7 Pages

We say we should never judge a book by its cover, a motto that all colleges should follow since their admission process is solely based on a swing vote of a test score (SAT). The SAT also known as the scholastic aptitude test is the most highly regarded test which thousands of students all across the country will have to take once in their high school lifetime. A determinate factor that Colleges use, to determine if a student is a good fit for their university. But how can colleges determine if a student will excel and be successful from their university based on their SAT scores? This very question has posed many arguments saying that colleges should diminished this test as it plays a big role in college application process and gives those who live in economically comfortable families a greater edge over others who aren’t well off.

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890 Words | 4 Pages

More populated schools that are in big cities have students that can pay for a tutor if they feel that they are falling behind in class. In the smaller or poorer schools can’t do that because nor the families or the school has enough money to pay for the tutors. This shows that the Standardized Tests are bad for small schools and

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783 Words | 4 Pages

For millions of students around the world their SAT scores help them to determine where they go to university. They can either benefit or hinder their college applications and make a big difference in their admission to college. Many people argue whether or not high school students should take the SAT and if it really predicts future success. In recent years, even some competitive universities have gone test optional. SAT scores have been shown to be effective in predicting a student's future performance in academic future.

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1859 Words | 8 Pages

In America, this happens every day. Although many people believe standardized testing is a justified way of measuring intelligence and grading students, a growing number of people in America feel that standardized test taking is biased, inaccurate, and an ineffective way of measuring student intelligence. Some parents

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1529 Words | 7 Pages

The SAT is a test that is used to determine if a school will accept the student in the college or not. It may be unfair to base on a single test but some may say it is necessary to determine a student’s

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1888 Words | 8 Pages

The ACT stands for American College Testing; the test measures the students’ abilities to preform well on four subjects: Math, Reading, Science, and English. Similarly, the SAT stands for Scholastic Aptitude Test; it measures students’ abilities to perform well Reading, English, and Math. However, how accurately do these tests measure student’s performance in college? Are they good predictors of student’s future? Some researchers argue that these assessments do not measure the capability of a student.

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