Argument Essay Standardized Testing - 925 Words

Standardized Testing: Good or Bad? If someone was to ask you â€Å"how do you define student achievement?† what would your answer be? Would you say student achievement is measured by state achievement tests? Or would you say that student achievement is too complex a subject to be objectively measured? There are many important skills students must be taught, and we need a way to effectively measure if they are in fact learning those skills. However, standardized tests cannot effectively show the learning of all students, especially those that are not good test takers. And of those skills that are tested, there are an endless number of arguably more important skills that aren’t being valued because they cannot be calculated. Furthermore,†¦show more content†¦Standardized tests do not give us a complete and direct measure of student achievement because they often only measure the goals of education(Harris). And while teachers and administration are forced to increase preparation for these tests, im portant -arguably more important - skills are being overlooked. Here are some attributes that standardized tests do not even try to cover: creativity, motivation, persistence, curiosity, reliability, critical thinking, self-awareness, leadership, civic-mindedness, empathy, courage, compassion, sense of beauty and wonder, honesty and integrity. Surely these are all â€Å"achievements† that students should be experiencing, so why don’t schools these as well as academic goals? Rochelle Gutià ©rrez, a member of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics says Achievement—all the outcomes that students and teachers attain. Achievement is more than test scores but also includes class participation, students course-taking patterns, and teachers professional development patterns(Harris). These are all qualities that standardized tests cannot measure. Those that support standardized testing in schools site the fact that high school students who were required to pass a standardized test for a school program were more likely to talk to their parents and peers about schoolwork (Walberg). They also found thatShow MoreRelatedStandardized Testing And Its Impact On The Classroom1633 Words   |  7 Pagessomething offensive. Microaggressions are even apparent in standardized testing and academia as test writers and teachers can unintentionally degrade students with a seemingly innocent statement. Standardized tests are allegedly supposed to test student’s knowledge of what they have learned or previously known. The tests also reflect the academic progress of the school to determine the quality of education that the school provides. Standardized tests seem to be an unbiased way of determining skill, butRead MoreThe Shortcomings of Standardized Testing1636 Words   |  7 PagesSince the U.S. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind program, standardized testing has become the norm for American schools. Under this system, each child attending a school is required to take a standardized test at specific grade points to assess their level of comprehension. Parents, scholars and all stakeholders involved take part in constant discussions over its effectiveness in evaluating students’ comprehension, teachers’ competency and the effects of the test on the education system. ThoughRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1458 Words   |  6 PagesSAT or ACT. The ACT and SAT are both standardized test used by colleges to determine the knowledge of a student and predict what their performance will be in their first year of college. An immense amount of pressure is put on student to receive certain scores in order to obtain scholarships and admission into college. Even just one point on a student’s score can determine if they will be accepted into their dream college. However, the results from standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, areRead MoreThe Importance Of Standardized Testing In Education1140 Words   |  5 PagesThe standardized test has become the staple of the United States K12 education system. Students at all levels are routinely tested, and schools evaluated based on the scores. It’s easy to look at this as a necessary part of the system, a needed way of assessing both school and individual student performance to ensure quality across all schools. These tests are regarded as a tried-and true way of doing this, when in reality they are neither old nor accurate in assessment. I move in this essay thatRead MoreResearch Paper over Standardized Testing1330 Words   |  6 PagesCatherine Burgess 1 Burgess 1 Mrs. Edmonds English 3 AP 2/20/2013 Standardized Testing The current period of learning is being determined by standardized testing, and has become the main focus of many arguments within the education system. Students all over the United States are being subjected to standardized tests often throughout their years in school due to legislation that has been set by Government over the past several years. While there are many upsides to the reasonsRead More The Debate Over Standardized Testing Essay1287 Words   |  6 PagesIn classrooms all across America, students sit perched over their desks in the process of taking standardized tests. As the students take the tests, teachers pace nervously up and down the rows of their classroom, hoping and praying that their students can recall the information which they have presented. Some children sit relaxed at their desks, calmly filling in the bubbles and answering essay questions. These children are well prepared and equipped to handle their tests. Other children, howeverRead MoreAnalysis Of The Cartoon I Looked At My Cartoon ``976 Words   |  4 Pagesmultiple subliminal meanings that could be applied. One After further analyzation, I found that Kal’s most significant claims were about the â€Å"difficulty students face during standardized testing† but also about the way that â€Å"modern-day school systems are working to ensure the passing of their students in standardized testing while not preparing their students for higher-level tests such as college entrance and college-level exams.† (Rhetorical Analysis, Gabriela Brooks). When examining symbolismRead MoreStandardized Testing and Curriculum Standards Essay1188 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized Testing and Curriculum Standards It cannot be said that all assessments are unnecessary and academically limiting for students. If teachers are to know their students’ strengths and weaknesses, they must formulate a way in which to assess their knowledge. In order to create a curriculum adherent to the most specific needs of a teacher’s class, assessment must play a role when devising the course of action for the academics taught. This does not mean that all standardized testing isRead MoreDisadvantages Of Standardized Testing Essay1143 Words   |  5 PagesAdnanur Chowdhury Alex Kurian English 1301 9 November 2017 Disadvantage of Standardized testing system American Education has remained a work in growth for the earlier century. Standardized testing has been used to compare state, nation and school. The main focuses being tested as a worldwide measure are science, mathematics and reading. The impression behindhand statewide or national testing is mostly that all students are learning the similar stuffs at the same period so every student are on theRead MoreStandardized Testing Is A Crucial Part Of Today s Federal Education Structure Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing is a crucial part of today’s federal education structure; one that is both highly supported and criticized at all levels. The main point of this roundtable, and the chosen excerpts from the authors on the subject, is to discern and debate both the necessity of and the role that multiple choice testing plays in teaching history. This subject is relevant to us as history teachers because it opens up the floor for discussions about the need to either continue, reform, or completely