The Testing is Standard. The educational system in the United States has been using standardized tests to evaluate the performance of students. Teachers’ grading practices are naturally uneven and subjective. Standardized testing creates questions and answers that have their own subjectivity. The act states that if state-run schools are to receive federal funding, students should be given (and must pass) certain assessments. Students feel the pressure when it comes to performing well on tests. Our focus on standardized testing hasn’t helped us improve our results!” [73], Busteed asks, “What if our overreliance on standardized testing has actually inhibited our ability to help students succeed and achieve in a multitude of other dimensions? List of Pros of Standardized Testing. The scores on a standardized test become part of the public record. A standardized test could determine the knowledge a student has about musical theory, but it cannot judge the quality of a composition that a student might create. I weighed the pros and cons and decided that standardized testing is a good option for us. The more data that is used, the more accurate the picture it will paint.” [64], Standardized tests can offer evidence of and promote academic rigor, which is invaluable in college as well as in students’ careers. It promises big results that do not usually happen. List of the Disadvantages of Standardized Testing 1. Pro: Identifying the Gifted. Standardized tests have become a mainstay of the U.S. educational system. You can learn in a one-on-one setting. that takes away focus from the ultimate goal (student success). 0. 8. Standardized testing is a controversial topic among teachers, parents, voters, and students. If a student receives a 90% rating in mathematics, for example, then parents know that their student is performing better in that subject than 90% of their peers throughout the country. 7. In the US, standardized testing today often doesn’t account for any special needs that a student may have, so the results for each student may not be entirely accurate. The teacher prepares and carries out the tasks associated with certain learning skills and uniformly applied across the students. Every student is evaluated in the same way with these tests, which means there is a guarantee of a specific educational framework in every school. The current use of No. Individual school administrators, school districts, and the state can compare teachers using test scores to show how each teacher has helped students master core concepts. 3. And the reason you do that is so you can make judgments among these kids. Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing 1464 Words | 6 Pages "Contrary to popular assumptions about standardized testing, the tests do a poor job of measuring student achievement" (Harris 1). Cons of standardized testing While this method of testing can provide value, there are also a number of reasons standardized testing is bad: It can create major stress. Teachers’ grading practices are naturally uneven and subjective. Students also feel this stress because they realize that their performance is going to affect the life of their teacher in some way. Starting in Imperial China, standardized testing used to be used in a rudimentary form to determine one’s eligibility for positions in the government of the ruling class. Standardized testing only provides a one-day evaluation for a student. Julie Anne Wells Tuesday, May 14, 2019. It measures only a small portion of what makes education meaningful. They work hard to do better than their friends did. But the question was later used in a test that was administered in New England. Retrieved from https://standardizedtests.procon.org/, ProCon.org. As technologies and knowledge changes and grows, our educational systems must be able to adapt. Opponents argue that standardized tests only determine which students are good at taking tests, offer no meaningful measure of progress, and have not improved student performance, and that the tests are racist, classist, and sexist, with scores that are not predictors of future success. And they have led to improvements in access to instruction for students with disabilities and English learners… Inclusion of students with disabilities and English learners in summative tests used for accountability allows us to measure how well the system is doing for these students, and then it is possible to fill in gaps in instructional opportunity.” [60], Advocates for marginalized groups of students, whether by race, learning disability, or other difference, can use testing data to prove a problem exists and to help solve the problem via more funding, development of programs, or other solutions. If a student had a difficult morning and it affects their performance on the day they take a standardized test, then their scores may not accurately reflect their true knowledge or potential. It creates an accepted set of standards that are established throughout the entire educational community. What are standardized tests? Teacher evaluations have been tied to standardized test results. Standardized tests, such as the ACT or GRT, are also useful in determining placement in advanced educational programs. As a teacher, you will encounter standardized testing many times in your career. It allows overseers to determine the effectiveness of an educational system. In the early 20th century, Alfred Binet developed the Stan… Death Penalty – Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed? The last time Americans celebrated being 23rd, 39th and 25th in anything was … well, never. 7. 2 pencils on standardized tests is a holdover from the 1930s through the 1960s, when scanning machines scored answer sheets by detecting the electrical conductivity of graphite pencil marks. The net result is less wasted instructional time and a simplified way of timeline management.2) Gives parents a good idea of how their children are doing as compared to students across the country and locally. They assess students based on a similar set of questions, are given under nearly identical testing conditions, and are graded by a machine or blind reviewer. Pros of Standardized Testing. We use test results, along with a slew of other data, to inform instruction for each child. The earliest known standardized tests were administered to government job applicants in 7th Century Imperial China. If we can focus less on taking the test and more on teaching every student in an individualized way as much as possible, we will be able to see the true benefits of this type of test. Standardized testing causes severe stress in younger students. Recreational Marijuana – Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? However, there has been an ongoing debate among scholars, parents, and teachers on the effectiveness of these tests. Or at training students to apply creative thinking to solve messy and complex issues with no easy answers?” [73], The origin of American standardized tests are those created by psychologist Carl Brigham, PhD, for the Army during World War I, which was later adapted to become the SAT. Administration observation, student surveys, student test scores, professional portfolios, and on and on. Medical Marijuana – Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option? ], [Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of exam, according to proponents and opponents. These data are used to advocate for greater resource equity in schools and more fair treatment for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, and English learners… [W]e cannot fix what we cannot measure. What the test may cover may not be what the students have learned in class. They argue standardized tests are useful metrics for teacher evaluations. I remember a science test that had been developed in California and it asked about earthquakes. Other types of standardized testing are essay questions, short-answer question types or a combination of both. The pros and cons have been weighted heavily by parents and educators alike—with many left wondering whether or not implementing testing standards have hurt or helped students. Like bringing in low-cost Chromebooks into the classroom on a regular basis. Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing . The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing 1204 Words | 5 Pages. (Here’s an example.) On pros and cons: “Pros: Standardized assessments provide a snapshot of how well a student is learning state standards. Standardized testing has not improved student achievement. And it is unfair to say that just by luck of birth that a child born in Wellesley is somehow entitled to a higher-quality education… Testing is a tool for us to hold the system accountable to make sure our kids have what they need. There are several intelligence testing pros and cons to consider when evaluating this approach as an assessment tool in any perspective. 1. Standardized testing provides a set of data that can be mined by schools to improve their structure, teaching methods, and activities. This can also indicate how your local area is doing compared against the national landscape.3) Allows students’ progress to be tracked over the years. ], ProCon.org. [ 56] S The majority of parents and students have an opinion on standardized testing, but many people are unaware of the real effect standardized testing has on public school. 22329. We use test results, along with a slew of other data, to inform instruction for each child. Within the past decade most states have adopted standardized statewide testing programs to measure student achievement—and there's more at stake than just grades. This disrupts school routines, lessens time teaching and learning. As a teacher, you will encounter standardized testing many times in your career. Standardized tests can only, at best, evaluate rote knowledge of math, science, and English. A necessity. Cons of standardized tests are as follows: Test scores might impact on the confidence of the students. The numbers are continuing to grow, ... Pros and Cons. First, let’s start with some background. It can provide information that schools need to form sub-group learning opportunities. The issue is highly debated because it carries pros and cons. Teachers can see what they need to … Gun Control – Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted? A hotly debated topic, we look at some of the pros and cons of these tests, and ask your opinion on the issue. One of the advantages of standardized testing centers on the fact that it has been very useful in the development and implementation of education policies and thereby, in regulating the education system within a particular jurisdiction. 3. Many people claim that standardized testing allows an accurate measurement of student progress and teacher effectiveness. While studies find a negative relationship between test preparation and instructional quality, some experts believe that concerns about teaching to the test may be exaggerated. He recommended that I have the teacher whose class had scored much lower work directly with the teacher who seemed to know how to get higher scores from her students. COMMENTS. Education in the United States has included standardized testing in some way since the mid-1800s. Standardized Testing – CONS Creates major stress for students and teachers. [72], Brandon Busteed, Executive Director, Education & Workforce Development at the time of the quote, stated, “Despite an increased focus on standardized testing, U.S. results in international comparisons show we have made no significant improvement over the past 20 years, according to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Should Tablets Replace Textbooks in K-12 Schools? Teachers can see what they need to teach and when they are able to teach it. '” [70], Students are tested on grade-appropriate material, but they are not re-tested to determine if they have learned information they tested poorly on the year before. Cons: You must be self-motivated. Standardized testing cannot accurately show the academic abilities of a student. This competition often limits the amount of time students have for exercise and play, which can affect their social development. [63], Timothy Hilton, a high school social studies teacher in South Central Los Angeles, stated, “No self-respecting teacher would use a single student grade on a single assignment as a final grade for the entirety of a course, so why would we rely on one source of information in the determination of a teacher’s overall quality? 1. Standardized assessment is a learning metric While students are evaluated by standardized tests, we get a reliable metric that we can use to analyze the progress of our education system. ... Another potential problem with standardized testing is that it could stifle innovation. 1. On pros and cons: “Pros: Standardized assessments provide a snapshot of how well a student is learning state standards. Some states even require high school students to take the ACT or SAT to graduate. [68] [69] External stereotypes also play a part in scores: “research indicates that being targeted by well-known stereotypes (‘blacks are unintelligent,’ ‘Latinos perform poorly on tests,’ ‘girls can’t do math’ and so on) can be threatening to students in profound ways, a predicament they call ‘stereotype threat. The Army tests were created specifically to segregate soldiers by race, because at the time science inaccurately linked intelligence and race. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Because teachers are almost forced to become hyper-focused on test results, students begin to be identified based on how well they perform. Instead of evaluating the hard work that a student puts in for improvement, the test basically calls the student a failure. Parents receive more information about their student. Veteran Florida educator, Marion Brady, outlines 34 problems with standardized tests. Black and Brown excellence is real, but just because a kid lives in Dorchester [Massachusetts] does not make his or her life is less valuable than a child that lives in Wellesley [Massachusetts]. Many people claim that standardized testing allows an accurate measurement of student progress and teacher effectiveness. Pros of Standardized Testing. The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. Standardized tests are carefully constructed tests that have uniformity of … Share on Facebook. There are also subjectivisms in the grading systems for certain reading and writing activities that are based solely on teacher opinion. They are intended to provide an accurate, unfiltered measure of what a student knows.” [56], Frequently states or local jurisdictions employ psychometricians to ensure tests are fair across populations of students. Veteran Florida educator, Marion Brady, outlines 34 problems with standardized tests. Pros of Standardized Testing: 1. Because standardized tests are graded by computers, they are much more impartial and accurate with the grades a student has truly earned. Testing also is a helpful tool to inform parents and teachers on a student 's progress in class. Parents can also see how the educational opportunities in their region compare to national statistics. This lesson will highlight some of the pros and cons of standardized testing. It is a process which holds students and teachers accountable. [69] Instead, as Steve Martinez, EdD, Superintendent of Twin Rivers Unified in California, and Rick Miller, Executive Director of CORE Districts, note, each “state currently reports yearly change, by comparing the scores of this year’s students against the scores of last year’s students who were in the same grade. when a student performs in the standardized test, or if by any chance, the test scores are not up to mark, it can leave a negative impact in the minds of the students. Standardized testing leads to less time learning, a more narrow curriculum and more time overall taking tests. [61], Chris Stewart, CEO of brightbeam, summarizes, “We only know that there’s a difference between White students and Black students and other students of color because we have the data. Cons of standardized testing. If a student moves to a different school district, their knowledge and learning processes aren’t going to dramatically change because of standardized testing. You could miss out on test-taking tips and tricks that come from coaches. The Benefits of Standardized Testing . This means a standardized test isn’t always an accurate reflection of the intelligence a student has. Test anxiety can also affect a student’s performance. 1) Standardized testing gives teachers guidance to help them determine what to teach students and when to teach it. Who is the author? Go through this following story to know more about the pros and cons of standardized tests. 2. Matthew Pietrafetta, PhD, Founder of Academic Approach, argues that the “tests create gravitational pull toward higher achievement.” [65], Elaine Riordan, senior communications professional at Actively Learn, stated, “[C]onsiderable research suggests that interventions that help students improve test scores are linked to better adult outcomes such as college attendance, higher incomes, and the avoidance of risky behaviors… In other words, creating learning environments that lead to higher test scores is also likely to improve students’ long-term success in college and beyond… Recent research suggests that the competencies that the SAT, ACT, and other standardized tests are now evaluating are essential not just for students who will attend four-year colleges but also for those who participate in CTE programs or choose to seek employment requiring associate degrees and certificates. But in order to do so, you have to make sure that the test has in fact a spread of scores. Popham, (2001) and Sacks, (1999) suggest that through pros a student will have to pass certain tests to determine that he or she has acquired proficiency in various fields of study. Girls tend to do less well than boys and perform better on questions with open-ended answers, according to a 2018 study by Stanford University’s Sean Reardon, which found that test format alone accounts for 25 percent of the gender difference in performance in both reading and math. The pros and cons of standardized tests. The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing 1839 Words | 8 Pages. 1. based on the information you’ve reviewed. Misleading Critics contend that scores on this type of testing can provide indicators that might mislead educators when it comes to evaluating students, given that the questions are limited and do not cover extensive topics. Civil rights education lawsuits wherein a group is suing a local or state government for better education almost always use testing data. In doing so, the goal is to raise the testing scores that the teachers and students are able to achieve. With a puzzled look, she pointed to the prompt asking students to write about the qualities of someone who would deserve a “key to the city.” Many of my students, nearly all of whom qualified for free and reduced lunch, were not familiar with the idea of a ‘key to the city.’” [76], Wealthy kids, who would be more familiar with a “key to the city,” tend to have higher standardized test scores due to differences in brain development caused by factors such as “access to enriching educational resources, and… exposure to spoken language and vocabulary early in life.” [77] Plus, as Eloy Ortiz Oakley, MBA, Chancellor of California Community Colleges, points out, “Many well-resourced students have far greater access to test preparation, tutoring and taking the test multiple times, opportunities not afforded the less affluent… [T]hese admissions tests are a better measure of students’ family background and economic status than of their ability to succeed” [78], Journalist and teacher Carly Berwick explains, “All students do not do equally well on multiple choice tests, however. The scores are valuable because an independent agency develops and performs assessments and they come from a reliable source and provide us outcomes which we can be … It consumes more of instru… Sub-groups can be easily identified on standardized tests that allow schools to be able to develop services and programs that can help to improve the educational opportunities for those students. This practice hinders the potential that a child has to learn, removes creativity from the classroom, and causes children to dread going to school more than they already do. Standardized Testing Pros Proponents of standardized testing say that it is the best means of comparing data from a diverse population, allowing educators to digest large amounts of information quickly. 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