Standardized tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800s. They are commonly used to determine improvement, development, and success. Though it may be a good proposal to use, standardized tests however are not as effective indicators of future academic success. Intended to be a tool used as an equal opportunity of achievement, it has grown to become a tool of separation. Standardized tests are neither fair nor effective, and are unreliable of a student’s performance. For many, testing can become nerve wrecking and stressful. According to Gregory J. Cizek, an education researcher, he states that even the brightest students produce anxiety which causes the student not to do well. Many standardized tests evaluate a students’ …show more content…
So much stress are put upon the teacher to prepare a student, that it causes them to even quit their job. Many teachers focus on just teaching the test, that they began to lose focus to teach students certain skills beyond the standardized tests. This can hinder a student’s overall learning potential, which neglects their ability to learn other helpful skills later on in life. This also affects the ability to be prepared for productive adult lives. There is such great pressure for students to receive a certain score and showing a certain growth that it begins to focus only on getting through the test rather than on learning.
Many oppose that standardized testing is an effective way to predict and determine a student’s performance in future, as far as in higher education, in their career, or even in the military. They believe that it will provide a better feedback about their level of skills and knowledge. Opposers also believe that by giving these standardized tests, it will allow the teacher to be able to understand and determine what they need to teach their students and how they need to teach them. They also believe that it is a good way to be able to be compared to others throughout different schools, districts, and other