Is The Use of Standardized Tests Improving Education?
Is the use of standardized tests improving education in America?
Standardized tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800s. Their use skyrocketed after 2002's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated annual testing in all 50 states. US students slipped from 18th in the world in math in 2000 to 31st place in 2009, with a similar decline in science and no change in reading. Failures in the education system have been blamed on rising poverty levels, teacher quality, tenure policies, and increasingly on the pervasive use of standardized tests.
Proponents say standardized tests are a fair and objective measure of student achievement, that they ensure teachers and schools are accountable to taxpayers, and that the most relevant constituents - parents and students - approve of testing.
Opponents say the tests are neither fair nor objective, that their use promotes a narrow curriculum and drill-like "teaching to the test," and that excessive testing undermines America's ability to produce innovators and critical thinkers.
http://standardizedtests.procon.org/#background
Actual Link ^
It is copied and pasted and before you answer, try to look at both sides. Also can you explain why.
6 Comments • Newest first
Generally, people who do "bad" on standardized tests are those who say that it's useless.
Personally, I don't think it measures intelligence as much as it measures the ability to work hard and/or environment.
Ability to do well on tests doesn't necessarily suggest intelligence, but could suggest that a person is determined and hardworking.
Not really, I used to cheat on those type of tests due to stress and anxiety.
Our literacy in reading hasn't budged so I'm not sure how good that is. I mean, if you can't read you're going to fail school, no doubt a standardized test. The math state test I took was pathetic. The hardest question was about the pythagorean theorem. I honestly think it's the raising levels of kids who simply don't care enough to focus on their academics that is causing the drop.
Where I am from there is 4 tests.
Grade 3 = Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics (based on Grade 1, 2 and 3 material)
Grade 6 = Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics (based on Grade 4, 5 and 6 material)
Grade 9 = Assessment of Mathematics (based on things we already know)
Grade 10 = Literacy Test (based on things we already know)
If I recall your results were either you passed or failed. No marks no percentage no bullstuff.
They might changed the way you get your results (last time I did these tests were a decade ago).
I liked my system, no stress, barley studying.
Teachers used to scare us how hard it was but if you know how the English system works, follow instructions, have the ability to remove things that are not part of the question and how BEDMAS worked you pretty much will pass the test.
I always laugh when people on forums sites talk about "Standardized Tests" and stress about and then post their marks online like it is an achievement.
No its a load of crap, just another way for the government to receive more money. All it does it encourage the students to regurgitate what they learned in class. They never fully digest the information. They never, poop it out. They just keep eating the food and throw it up back back onto the paper. It never becomes apart of them because they never get a chance to fully integrate that information, to use it in real life.
So by the end of the day, the person with the highest scores just shows they have a good memory.