ipl-logo

Why Do Students Use Standardized Tests Succeed In College?

1042 Words5 Pages

We are in a time where people are not judged for who they are or what they can do, instead they are judged by a test; a test in which irrelevant information is regurgitated. It also seems that these tests supposedly determine one’s success in college or in the future. It is almost impossible to predict human behavior since it’s subject to change, so why are students told based on the results of a test, whether they will or will not succeed in college and/or to what degree?
Over 650 million tests are given throughout the US every year. It is a waste of time and one’s potential. Kohn (2012) believed that time spent on a test, was time not spent helping students become critical, creative, curious learners. Standardized tests are not as credible …show more content…

Standardized tests have been around for hundred of years. These include tests like the SAT and GRE, which are biased. A major issue with these tests is the fact that the distributors are making millions a year, even though these tests don’t measure a student’s capabilities. A PBS (2002) article states that figures went from $7million in 1955 to $263 million in 1997. A Big Think (2011) article stated “The trick for educators, colleges, and individuals is remembering that test scores are merely one (imperfect) indicator of how you stack up against the crowd, not an assessment of any your future potential” (p. 1). A test should not be a success indicator. I have learned that human behavior is unpredictable, so we cannot assume a number will determine a student 's success. Claude Steele (2012), Psychologist, pointed out that the SAT only measures about 18 percent of the things that it takes to do well in school. The SAT doesn’t effectively measure the elements which have been learned throughout high school; instead it seems to test how well of a test taker people are.
Another problem with standardized tests is that may be discriminatory. There is statistical evidence showing standardized tests are not a sufficient indicator of a student 's knowledge (Wade, 2012). In an article written by Big Think (2011), experts state that after enough practice, one can recognize patterns. In the chart located below, it can be seen that test …show more content…

What is the solution to standardized testing?. My personal solution would be to use alternative predictors for students to eliminate the economic discrimination. Pollard (2002) wrote “Performance assessments...These types of assessments are far better than standardized or conventional tests at providing data about what students can do...” (p. 1). It seems clear that performance assessments are the best indicators of a student 's understanding. Standardized tests are always made by the a particular distributor, which doesn’t allow for other perspectives or circumstances to be taken into consideration, whereas performance assessments factor in unforeseeable circumstances. (Educational Testing

Show More
Related
339 Words | 2 Pages

The tests aren’t very accurate, sure you know how to fill in a bubble, but you don’t learn how to think for yourself. If the answer's not a b c or d you don’t know how to answer it. Standardized test are seriously crippling our critical thinking skills. Now the tests interfere with seniors eligibility to graduate. Students wait in agony for the results of these tests to come in and it adds more stress to an

Read More
1776 Words | 8 Pages

Standardized Testing: Making College Admissions “Fair” Every year , the daunting prospect of undergoing standardized testing brings anxiety to thousands of high school students, and for good reason: a student’s performance on standardized college admission exams - most importantly, the ACT and SAT - is a major determinant in deciding where they will go to college. For decades, such standardized tests have been universally accepted as part of the admissions process: proponents argue, as Syverson (2007) explains, that such tests are the only way of standardizing college admissions when students from different schools have such widely varying profiles. However, in the past several decades a growing anti-testing movement has begun to poke holes

Read More
1749 Words | 7 Pages

Introduction Standardized tests may be used for a wide variety of educational purposes. For example, they may be used to determine a young child’s readiness for kindergarten, identify students who need special-education services or specialized academic support, place students in different academic programs or course levels, or award diplomas and other educational certificates. Thesis Statement Standardized tests should not be eliminated completely, but should rather be evaluated in addition to other factors such as grades, extracurricular activities, and volunteer hours. This would take pressure off of students during standardized tests, allow colleges to see how well-rounded the students are, and give students who are better in other areas

Read More
1352 Words | 6 Pages

Over two hundred parents claim to not let a student go through standardized testing. The earliest records of standardized testing come from China, for the subjects of philosophy and poetry. America “copied” the European education system. In the early 20th century, immigrants took “standardized tests”. To determine possible career and where each person stood socially.

Read More
859 Words | 4 Pages

World domination. It may simply begin through the depths of an evil scientist, but in reality, standardized tests are the culprit. Standardized Testing: two words that as soon as teachers, their students, and administrators hear this, they fret. The day where all outstanding abilities acquired throughout the year is assessed at once. All this joyful news of how standardized testing supposedly creates miracles of our knowledge, increasing student achievement, may be proven wrong or right, but that is not our deepest concerns.

Read More
561 Words | 3 Pages

Standardized tests are an unreliable measure of a student’s performance. A study in 2001 by Brookings Institution showed that fifty to eighty percent of test score improvements were not permanent and were because of little changes that did not pertain to anything related to long term learning. Basically, students learned little tricks to help their scores, but did not truly master the skill to apply it critically. 2. High stakes tests are used in job areas such as physicians and lawyers, allowing bosses to ensure their workers have the necessary knowledge for their professions.

Read More
895 Words | 4 Pages

Standardized tests are very common in today’s modern society. They are used as a tool to measure a person’s performance and indicate how their estimated performance will be in a college class. Every year hundreds of students take the ACT or SAT in order to get accepted into their college of choice and to receive scholarships, but they fail to see the problems with these standardized tests. As more and more people take these tests, the national average score falls causing doubt in the extremely important system. This is leading people to question whether or not the ACT and SATs are accomplishing what they were created to do.

Read More
1767 Words | 8 Pages

My topic revolves around the type of role standardized tests should play in college admissions. I plan to argue that colleges should put less emphasis on standardized tests when choosing the best applicants to attend their universities. Many colleges are taking the approach of ignoring standardized tests results, and either implementing new tasks or stressing other factors when considering the best applicants. Test-optional schools may require additional essays and personality tests, or examine the applicant’s coursework to determine academic excellence and degree of difficulty. The research I collected suggests that standardized tests are biased against various races and classes, GPA is a better indicator of college success, and test-optional universities lessen barriers and increase diversity within their institutions.

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
1006 Words | 5 Pages

6 Paid ways to Promote a Blog Blogging is more than creating content and updating your website with valuable information and inspiriting insights. A successful blog require marketing strategies that can promote your blog and visitors to read, comment and share your posts. Some bloggers use free strategies while others use paid ways to promote their blog. Why pay when you can use freebies?

Read More
1451 Words | 6 Pages

“Standardized testing can create a lot of stress on both educators and students” (“Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing”). Allowing this type of testing and amount of testing is causing a great deal of stress for every aspect in the matter. Not only are students stressed about the amount of knowledge placed in the tests, but parents and teachers as well. Teachers having to cram students with knowledge of a specific test, and parents having to help teach at home as well as having to help with problems and situations that they were never taught when they were in school. Many of students around the world are stuck at home studying each and every night in order to prepare for these tests that pretty much determine how smart society thinks they are.

Read More
1341 Words | 6 Pages

These people argue that standardized tests are objective and reliable for checking on students’ educational development; in addition, standardized tests serve as a guideline for what students need. The Office of Work/Life claims that “Standardized tests provide teachers with guidance for what and when something needs to be taught” (Columbia University). As a result, they make it easy to check student’s progress and make sure they’re getting the knowledge they need. Although teachers may be held accountable, Retired teacher, Marion Brady, emphasizes that “minimal to no useful feedback” is given (The complete list). Results from standardized tests are given as numbers, not feedback.

Read More
805 Words | 4 Pages

Therefore, the argument that standardized testing helps pinpoint areas for improvement, is weak. It does not account for the students whose intelligence is poorly reflected due to their poor test-taking abilities. Nixon also said that “We can compare our students to their peers at other schools to determine what we’re doing well within our educational continuum.” Additionally, some students are extremely intelligent with poor test taking skills, while others are great test-takers. Thus, comparing students’ standardized test scores is not an efficient method to assess what needs to be improved upon.

Read More
1191 Words | 5 Pages

Unfortunately, standardized testing only gives a rough estimate of what a student can do or knows. It is impossible to tell if a student will improve, or even tell if the student just guessed on all of their answers for the test. This explains how standardized tests do not measure the correct information that school’s are actually searching

Read More
1159 Words | 5 Pages

These people see standardized testing as inaccurate and a false way of measuring academic achievement. That is only a few of the many things seen as cons for standardized testing. Along with that the tests fail to measure such important aspects such as creativity and critical thinking skills. Studies indicate that standardized tests reward superficial thinking and might discourage more interpretive thinking. Next, as a result of the small fragment of knowledge that is tested, standardized tests capture a incomplete picture of student achievement.

Read More

More about Why Do Students Use Standardized Tests Succeed In College?

Related Topics

Open Document