ipl-logo

Arguments Against Standardized Testing

1051 Words5 Pages

The employment of standardized testing in New York City's educational system has been the subject of a contentious debate for almost 20 years. It all began in 2002 with the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act, which required students from 3rd to 8th grade to take annual standardized tests in mathematics and reading. Subsequently, in 2009, the state embraced the Common Core State Standards, which established explicit learning targets for mathematics and English Language Arts, which were subsequently evaluated through standardized tests.

The topic of standardized testing has been greeted with passionate opinions from educators and parents alike. Those in opposition claim that the tests are excessively high-stakes and have an overly narrow …show more content…

People argue that standardized testing detracts from genuine learning and that the emphasis on test scores results in an overly narrow focus on math and reading, neglecting other crucial areas of education, such as social studies, science, and the arts. While it is true that some educators may prioritize teaching according to the test, this is not a flaw inherent in standardized testing but rather a failure of teaching practices. The use of standardized testing does not inherently prevent teachers from providing a well-rounded education that incorporates multiple subjects and fosters critical thinking and creativity, but rather, it is up to teachers to create a balance between test preparation and other broader learning objectives. Moreover, standardized testing provides an objective measure of student achievement and can identify areas where students need additional support. The data provided by these tests can inform instructional decisions and help teachers target their instruction to address areas where students struggle. This targeted instruction can lead to improvements in academic performance and better prepare students for success in the …show more content…

People argue that standardized tests do not take into account the plethora of challenges that these students face, including language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to resources. Although it is true that standardized tests may not be a flawless measure of student achievement and some students may encounter obstacles, these tests are designed to provide a fair and impartial measure of student performance. It can be thought of as a mirror, when being held up to a student “it faithfully reflects his or her knowledge and skills back to the test administrator.” Standardized tests are carefully crafted using rigorous research and are intended to be impartial to all students, irrespective of their background. Furthermore, standardized testing generates valuable data that can aid in identifying disparities in academic performance and shaping policies aimed at addressing these

Show More
Related
804 Words | 4 Pages

All students dread one thing when it comes to school - testing. Standardized test are the main focus in our school systems instead of actually gaining knowledge at the end of the year. As a mother, Michelle Rhee, understands the lack of attention given on education as a whole instead of just waiting on the scores, but she still agrees on continuing with standardized test. Kristina Rizga opposes the opinion of Michelle Rhee as she does not believe standardized test truly measure the intelligence of a student. Kristina Rizga proves her stand against standardized test by utilizing solid use of argumentation.

Read More
1208 Words | 5 Pages

Rebels Without a Cause: Alienation in The Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar When most people think of the 1950s, they think of things like drive-in movies, poodle skirts, bobby socks, I Love Lucy, and Buddy Holly. But beneath the era’s conformist and highly materialist facade lay a largely overlooked underground world of racism, McCarthyism, and anxiety. This so-called Silent Generation was born too late to fight in World War II but still had to deal with its repercussions. People like Jack Kerouac, Malcolm X, Arthur Miller, Ralph Ellison, and yes, Sylvia Plath and J.D. Salinger struggled with the alienation that was typical of their generation. Nowhere is this alienation better portrayed than in Salinger’s

Read More
1212 Words | 5 Pages

Proponents see standardized testing as a way of making testing more efficient and effective by minimizing cost and increasing people’s accountability for their performance in the system. Opponents on the other hand argue that the systems has limitations based on its very nature on what can be tested and as a result of these standards needing to be met sacrifice some very important aspects of students education experience as well as force onto students and teachers a one size fits all model that has failed to deliver on its promises. After having reviewed all the evidence in detail it becomes clear to me that standardized testing is not an effective system for educating students and does more bad than good

Read More
1178 Words | 5 Pages

Increasingly today in America’s school system, there is a recognition of tension between individuality and conformity. The struggle between students’ personal needs and the needs of the whole continues to grow. This can be seen though the controversial issue of standardized testing. These are tests that are designed in a way, which are administered and recorded in a consistent method. In standardized testing, all test takers are required to answer the same set of multiple-choice, true or false questions, short answer, and essay questions.

Read More
647 Words | 3 Pages

In fact, the increasing use of standardized testing will do more damage than good, because of its failure to capture the entirety of a student’s body of work. Furthermore, the overwhelming stress that the United States government, and school systems have placed on the usage of standardized tests has become detrimental to American education, and is not the most effective way to gauge the intelligence of American students. The American educational system should be fixated on providing each child enough attention and information so they can succeed in that class and in the future. However, the increasing focus on having to pass a standardized test has blinded schools of the real goal, because they are required to get their students to pass the standardized tests.

Read More
3389 Words | 14 Pages

These limitations highlight the need for an alternative form of assessment that can capture a more diverse set of student learning outcomes. As such, the narrow focus of standardized testing may lead to an ineffective evaluation approach, which undermines the goal of education or prepares students for success in various contexts. While standardized tests offer a perspective of student performance in a limited number of areas, they should not be relied upon as the core measure of student

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Spark Admissions explains the advantages and disabilities of standardized tests. Schools should continue to use standardized testing because it gives inclusive opportunities, it gets students ready for future testing, and shows progress. Schools should continue to use standardized testing because it gives inclusive support. “Standardized tests can give students from under-performing high schools a chance to prove that they have mastered ample academic material despite their circumstances” (8). Standardized testing gives kids a chance to show how talented they are in that subject without their

Read More
448 Words | 2 Pages

Standardized Testing Do you think students should be tested so much? Students are tested from grade three all the way up to their senior year of High School. Their test are mostly about Reading and Math. Testing so much should be illegal. Standardized Testing should be limited because students become overwhelmed, are robbed of their childhood and has not achieved anything from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) which was passed in 2002.

Read More
885 Words | 4 Pages

True high-stakes standardized testing was begun in 2001, as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, which was put into place to help make it so that all children would have an equal opportunity to learn, regardless of their race, ethnic background or their families’ income level. While their goals sound admirable, the problem began with the implementation of the act; they wanted to ensure that each child was at least proficient in the standards that they developed, so they decided that testing was the best way to do so (Aske, Connelly & Corman, 2013). The issue with this is that not all students excel at test-taking, and putting so much emphasis on it can cause a student severe stress and anxiety (Colwell, 2013). In 2009, Race to the Top was implemented, but instead of placing less emphasis on testing and more on learning, it made the stakes worse, ensuring that schools that had students who did not perform as well could be shut down, or individual teachers could be fired if they did not show what was considered to be appropriate progress in test scores, which might soon prove impossible since the optimal goal is to reach a level of 100 percent of the students in a school to the proficiency level (Tavakolian & Howell,

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

Standardized assessments to many others can be considered an important role in the educational system and they believe that they have brilliantly positive effects on improving a student’s learning based the results of these tests. “My appreciation of having had the privilege of introducing standardized tests in my school cannot be too strongly emphasized… No school can accurately determine the progress of its pupils, either as a group or individually, without using these tests” (E.M.W. 126). It is true that these tests can review results of standardized tests, but does it hold accurate results of how effectively these children are learning educational material? It’s important to understand that these results can only tell one side of the story.

Read More
1260 Words | 6 Pages

Standardized tests are becoming less of the norm for students as colleges recognize that they could be a poor resource for college admissions. They have been around since 1875 and should be altered to conform to today's society. Students' futures should not revolve around these exams. Although standardized tests improve equity when applying for college, these exams should not be the center of the school's curriculum because schools are unable to prepare teachers, leaving the students with unnecessary stress and poor achievement.

Read More
597 Words | 3 Pages

Students are often taught to memorize facts and formulas rather than to think creatively and critically about the world around them. The focus on testing results in a one-size-fits-all approach to education that neglects the individual needs and interests of students. Furthermore, the use of standardized testing can exacerbate existing inequities in education. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often struggle with standardized tests due to factors such as lack of access to resources and testing anxiety.

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

The average American student takes about 112 standardized tests between pre-kindergarten and 12th grade (Strauss). A standardized test is any form of test that requires the student to answer the same selection of common questions in a consistent matter, which makes it possible to compare relative student performance. Standardized tests restrict creativity, waste time, and waste money. We should get rid of standardized tests in our school system. Standardized tests limit a student’s ability to express creativity.

Read More
1191 Words | 5 Pages

Standardized testing has become one of the most popular types of testing in U.S. public schools to date. Students take numerous standardized tests throughout their childhood schooling. (Studies show that a typical student takes an average of 112 mandated standardized tests between Pre-K and 12th grade.) While standardized testing is one of the main procedures that Universities use to judge incoming students, it is not proven to be the most effective way to convey a student’s actual intelligence level. The U.S. should not focus so heavily on standardized testing because it is not a complete accurate measurement of a student’s intelligence.

Read More
371 Words | 2 Pages

An important part of being a teacher is to observe and record. Observing and recording through lessons helps teachers to reflect on their lessons. In addition, teachers are able to make adjustments to their lessons. By observing and recording teachers are able to get to know each of their students.

Read More

More about Arguments Against Standardized Testing

Related Topics

Open Document