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The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

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Thousands of tiny circles spread across the page, labeled with your first few ABC’s. Your palms begin to sweat as you carefully choose B, but it can’t be B! You’ve already chosen this letter the last three times, and now you’re left in a distressed state. This is the stressful feeling most students experience during standardized tests. Creating even more stress is the place these standardized tests count toward, a burdening place known as college. Many colleges require these standardized tests in order to be accepted, but some students believe otherwise. This develops the controversial topic regarding whether or not colleges should require standardized tests in order for the student to have a chance at being accepted. However, there are students …show more content…

“A study by Jay Rosner in 2002 showed that sample questions which were answered correctly by more African-American students were not chosen for use in the tests; this was done so that test results – showing African-Americans scoring lower than whites – would be “consistent” from year to year” (Woestehoff, 1). This illustrates that there is outright racism in the test and that there isn’t much diversity in colleges as a result. When African-Americans don’t score well, then colleges are reluctant to accept them. Likewise, there is a lack of cultural awareness. “A Latina ‘bias reviewer’ caught this item while reviewing questions prepared for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. ‘I remember one question that showed a picture of a couch on a porch and asked, ‘What doesn’t fit?’ she says. “I started laughing…the way I grew up, everyone had a couch outside” (Woestehoff, 2). This portrays the lack of consideration for other cultures when making the test and when other cultures are not taken into consideration, then the test becomes completely unfair for people who are not familiar with traditions that might seem normal to people in America. In the same way, there is an unfair advantage to those who can’t afford test prep. “Students who can afford these sometimes expensive study aids to improve their scores have an advantage over students without the money. The more money a student puts into preparing for the SAT, essentially, …show more content…

“What About Your Grades.” My College Guide, 2 Oct. 2017, P. 2, mycollegeguide.org/guru/17/what-about-your-grades, Accessed December 10, 2017.

Olson, Madeleine. “Expensive SAT Prep Courses Give Wealthier Students An Edge.”Courant.com, 9 Sept. 2015, P. 2, www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-fresh-talk-olson-sat-prep-course-advantage-0909-20150908-story.html, Accessed Decemeber 10, 2017.

Seigel, Dora. “SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips.” High GPA but Low ACT Score: What Do You Do?, 20 Sept. 2015, 6:30:00PM, P. 3, blog.prepscholar.com/high-gpa-but-low-act-score-what-do-you-do, Accessed December 10, 2017.

“Standardized Tests - ProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines, 31 Jan. 2017, P. 2, standardizedtests.procon.org/, Accessed December 10, 2017.

Tucker, Kristine. “How to Go to College With Low ACT and SAT Scores.” How to Go to College With Low ACT and SAT Scores | Education - Seattle PI, P. 1, education.seattlepi.com/college-low-act-sat-scores-2698.html, Accessed December 10, 2017.

Woestehoff, Julie. “What’s Wrong with Standardized Tests?” Seattle Education, 19 Mar. 2014, P. 1 & 2, seattleducation.com/2011/01/29/whats-wrong-with-standardized-tests/, Accessed December 10,

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