Standardized Testing Argumentative Essay

Students take approximately 113 standardized tests between pre-k and 12th grade (Hefling). The point of standardized testing is to measure the growth and learning of a child in the main course subjects math, science, social studies, and english. Some of these standardized tests have the same general questions for everyone meaning the students in on grade english are taking the same test with the same questions as the students in ap english. This is a clear disadvantage to the students in lower english as they haven’t learned as far as the students in ap english. Some students spend hours studying specifically for a standardized test so that they can progress in the levels of a certain subject when they might not be ready for it. Students are

Some teachers feel the need to mainly teach for what is going to be on the test, meaning they skip around the curriculum and miss key components their students need to know for their future. It has been said that “it is true that some teachers will find the need to teach to a standard test” (Gross). Teachers know what material is on these standardized tests so they know what they need to cover before their students take these tests. It is important for teachers to cover this material but they should also be covering the rest of what their counties curriculum covers. The teachers need to make sure they are not depriving their students from the knowledge they need to be successful. However, even when teachers teach their whole curriculum and are sharing all the information these students need to be successful the test doesn't show that. Some of these tests are designed for a very specific number of students with a very specific amount of knowledge. There are many problems with these tests however “one problem with state-mandated tests is that they don’t take advantage of everything teachers know about their students” (Ark). Teachers are learning every aspect about their students throughout the whole year, the teachers know where they struggle and where they are strong. When teachers do not cover all the material that

There are not many other ways to check how students are doing in school and if they are comprehending what is being taught. It can be easy for students to get lost in the system and fall behind, an “Only in this way can the teacher know if the student needs intervention and remediation; if the curriculum matches the course requirements; or if the teaching methods needed are in some way lacking and require adjustment”(Gross). Standardized tests are an important way that the schools keep track of students' learning so that no one gets lost in the system. A child who needs extra help when learning but does not have the accommodation yet will get lost and stuck behind but with these tests that child can get the help they need to feel more confident in their learning ability. However, teachers can get the results needed to see if changes are necessary by doing a variety of individual assignments that can be entertaining. Students can also feel a lot of pressure when taking these standardized tests since it is a matter of memorizing not of knowing the material. So many students study for a test by memorization not by actually reviewing the material and knowing what they are talking about “‘Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble,’ Obama said in a video” (Study reveals how many required tests students take). Students have