The purpose of standardized tests in schools is to give educators an objective, unbiased perspective of the effectiveness of their instruction. Although standardized testing was designed to identify the natural aptitudes of individual students, over the years some educators have found additional factors may skew the results. Show
Keep reading to learn more about standardized testing or visit the ViewSonic Education page for further insights into learning outcomes. Standardized tests have been a part of U.S. education since the mid-1800s. But their popularity really skyrocketed in 2002 when the No Child Left Behind Act mandated annual testing in all 50 states. Since then, there’s been much debate about whether or not standardized testing can truly measure education quality—and how much weight should be given to standardized test scores. Like most arguments, there are strong opinions and points to be made on both sides. Some say that standardized testing is the best way to accurately and objectively evaluate students’ academic progress. Others, however, are strongly opposed—believing that achievement tests provide skewed, inaccurate results, and preclude many students from being able to exhibit their individual knowledge. But before we delve into each of these arguments, let’s define what standardized tests are, what exactly they are designed to do, and what they are used for. What Are Standardized Tests?According to The Glossary of Education Reform, “A standardized test is any form of test that (1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same way, and that (2) is scored in a “standard” or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students.”
What Are Standardized Tests Intended to Do?Standardized test scores are used by districts and states to identify student progress, measure how students are performing in different schools, and compare how different groups of students perform relative to others. States also use these test scores to identify the lowest-performing schools and provide those schools with needed support. An important point to note is that standardized test scores also help decide the distribution of federal funds across the USA. But are standardized tests truly fair to students and teachers? In the bigger picture, does this type of testing work? Reasons to Support Standardized Testing
Arguments Against Standardized Testing
Final ThoughtsDespite the criticism, standardized testing does serve an important function within education. Schools need to have a benchmarking system in place in order to measure the performance and progress of students, and the government needs to have a way to identify schools that need additional support. However, as pointed out, the system is not without its flaws and there are certainly areas that need to be addressed. Hopefully, with enough discussion of these criticisms, standardized testing can continue to serve the function it was created for, but a solution can be found that provides a more balanced result. If you have found this article helpful, you may also be interested in reading our short series on STEAM education, beginning with STEAM Education: Preparing All Students for the Future. Or, for more valuable classroom insights and innovative EdTech solutions, head directly to the ViewSonic Education page. What type of test is a standardized test?A standardized test is a test that is given to students in a very consistent manner; meaning that the questions on the test are all the same, the time given to each student is the same, and the way in which the test is scored is the same for all students.
What is measured on standardized tests?Standardized test scores are used by districts and states to identify student progress, measure how students are performing in different schools, and compare how different groups of students perform relative to others.
Which is an example of a standardized test?SAT. Once known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT is one of the most well-known and commonly administered standardized tests in the United States. Most high school juniors and seniors take the SAT or the PSAT (Preliminary SAT), as it is a common requirement for admission to college.
Which tests are used to measure academic achievement?The (AAT) ™ (Academic Aptitude and Achievement Test) is India's largest and most popular scholastic aptitude test which has been written by over 1,50,000 students from all over India and abroad. This test has been used effectively by the top schools of India since the past 12 years.
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