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Standardized Testing Essay

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Standardized tests have become a major aspect throughout the plethora of school systems worldwide. They allow for the evaluation of an educational system's effectiveness, student performance, and find solutions to problems (INcompassing Education). Although this type of implementation may sound beneficial on paper, recent studies show it is not always useful in practice, and can even hinder the development of those with disabilities (NeuroHealth Arlington Heights). However, why do these tests matter so much when the curriculum demonstrates a students performance and growth over the course of the entire school year, giving a more accurate measurement of intelligence (Columbia University, p. 2)? Perhaps, it is due to the fact that standardized …show more content…

Standardized testing can not only put stress on certain individuals who handle tests differently to other students, but even hinders the education of individuals who have learning disabilities. Due to the fact that tests only take into account the basic abilities of certain students, many students with disabilities struggle, and provide less reliable and truthful results (NeuroHealth). For example, a student who has problems with both reading comprehension, writing skills, and reading itself will struggle on written tests (NeuroHealth). This both hinders the learning experience of these students and provides schools with inaccurate assessments of student intelligence. Some students with learning disabilities may have problems with other topics, such as math, whilst others may not have taken many tests in their life before (NeuroHealth). Standardized tests are prepared with bias, and do not take into account external factors which may or may not help students learn proficiently and exceed their limits. Another thing to take into account is how all standardized tests are dictated by a time limit. Students who struggle with topics more than others are harmed by timed tests, as they must work at their own pace to fully comprehend and solve problems given to them and their peers who do not need to take their time (NeuroHealth). Even if completing the test were to affect how they are viewed academically, many disabled persons will not have the chance to finish the test at all, at least within the timeframe provided to them. When taking into account the variety of disabilities which exist in schools, it begs the question as to how and why these tests have not been suited to assist students with disadvantages in comparison to their peers. The very fact that standardized tests do not accommodate these factors in the first place shows that it is an

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