Standardized Testing free essay sample

Standardized testing in the United States started in the mid- 1800’s (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). This kind of testing was originally created to measure students’ performance and progress in school (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). In recent years, the public school system has relied heavily on the information this test provides, in doing so creating controversy. Other than being a student myself, and participating in multiple standardized exams such as, CSAP, ACT, and SAT, I do not have much background knowledge on this debate. The debate over standardized testing has raised this inquiry question: What are the effects of standardized testing on the United States public education system? I believe that the effects that standardized testing has on the US public education system is good and bad. Within these articles if found common themes, including elements of objectivity and subjectivity, a rise in cheating, and measurement of student success. The different articles I used for my research were: â€Å"Why It’s Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests†, by Noliwe M. We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized Testing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Rooks, an associated professor at Cornell University, from Time Magazine, published on October 11, 2012 by The Time, Inc. The thesis of this article is â€Å"Standardized achievement tests unfairly advantage white and Asian students and disadvantage the rest† (Time, Ideas). The second article used was, â€Å"Is the Use of Standardized Test improving Education in America? † by ProCon. org, updated on October 15, 2013, published by Procon. org. The thesis of this article is, people who believe that standardized tests are good for the US believe that the tests are fair and objective. On the other hand, people who believe that standardized tests are not beneficial for the US believe that tests are not fair or objective. The third article I researched was â€Å"Do Standardized Tests Show an Accurate View of Student’s Abilities? †, by Concordia University in Oregon. The thesis of this article is standardized test could be beneficial to the US, but only if they are accurately showing results and â€Å"used to guide children in their learning† (Concordia University). The fourth article I used was, â€Å"Test Our Children Well†, by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a vice provost and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, from The New Republic, created on October 7th, 2013, published by New Republic. The thesis of this article is if the US school systems used the â€Å"testing effect† (TNR) they would be able to used standardized tests effectively and without controversy. The last article I used for research was, â€Å"Are Exams Bad for Children? †, by Stephanie Schneider, a public school teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Matt Christison, a high school principle, in the New Internationalist, in July/August 2013. The thesis of this article is both teachers arguing for and against standardized testing and the effects it has on students and education. Most of the articles I found acknowledged subjective risk in standardized testing. Source number one, â€Å"Why It’s Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests†, states that because subjective testing has become a growing issue in standardized testing, if the US stopped â€Å"setting different educational benchmarks for groups based on race or income†, we would not have to â€Å"rely so heavily on standardized tests to begin with† (Rooks). Source number two, â€Å"Are Exams Bad for Children†, agrees that if the US was that interested in testing the success of all children, â€Å"then we would need to be clear that the current testing regime does nothing to address racial and economic inequalities and instead reinforces them† (Schneider 30). Source number three, â€Å"Is the Use of Standardized Test Improving Education in America† disagrees, stating that â€Å"standardized tests are inclusive and non-discriminatory because they ensure content is equivalent for all students† (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). Source number three also claims, if the US was to create alternative tests for minorities or students with disabilities we would only create â€Å"two, un-equal systems, one with accountability and one without† (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). Another theme presented in multiple articles was a rise in cheating. Source number one, â€Å"Do Standardized Tests Show an Accurate View of Students’ Abilities†, believes that because the push to do well on standardized tests is such a priority, â€Å"some institutions consider cheating† (Concordia University). Source number two, â€Å"Is the Use of Standardized Test Improving Education in America,† disagrees, explaining that cheating by administrators and students is not an issue, and not a reason to terminate standardized testing. This source also clarifies that â€Å"[i]t is likely that some cheating occurs, but some people cheat on their tax returns also, and the solution is not to abolish taxation† (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). Source number three, â€Å"Test Our Children Well†, proposes a solution that by using the â€Å"testing effect†, â€Å"teachers could develop new tests questions each week for each class†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Emanuel 10) and by doing so, will eliminate the opportunity for student to cheat on exams. The last theme I found presented in these sources is measurement of student success. Source number one, â€Å"Are Exams Bad for Children? †, explains that we can find better ways to measure a student’s learning abilities. Stephanie Schneider says, â€Å"More reliable methods of assessment can provide meaningful information that assist student learning, rather than a test that often serves as a punitive device† (30). The second source, â€Å"Test Our Children Well†, agrees that the â€Å"†¦right kind of assessments—frequent, short tests—can actually yield big educational benefits† (Emanuel 9). Source number three, â€Å"Is the Use of Standardized Test Improving Education in America? †, disagrees, and believes that the current standardized test system we use today â€Å"†¦[is] reliable and objective measures of student achievement† (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). Source three, also believes that â€Å"[s]tandardized tests provide a lot of useful information at a low cost†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Standardized Tests ProCon. org). Based on my findings and answering the question, what are the effects of standardized testing on the United States public education system? , the effects of standardized testing are both good and bad. Throughout the sources I researched and the common themes I found, some of the good effects presented were that standardized tests provided a good measurement of a student’s achievement, are objective, and hold students and teachers accountable. On the other hand I found that some believe that standardized tests only measure a fraction of a student’s abilities. They also believe that these types of tests cause a rise in cheating, so that the information they are supposed to provide is not even accurate. After my research I have concluded that the effects that standardized tests have on the United States public education system are more negative than positive. Since the 1800’s (Standardized Tests ProCon. org), standardized tests have been responsible to measure student success. In recent years, controversy has struck, asking, what are the effects of standardized testing on the United States Public Education system? Throughout my research I found common themes which include the following; elements of objectivity and subjectivity, a rise in cheating, and measurement of student success. Standardized Testing free essay sample So why do we still participate in something that has been given so much negative attention? On the one hand, perhaps, standardized testing provides a few key ingredients to successful education, and doesn’t deserve such negativity. For example, standardizing assessment eliminates testing bias, allowing every student the same opportunity to answer the same question. Students from Georgia learn and repeat the same historical â€Å"facts† as students from Utah. Students from poorer districts are judged by the exact same standards as those with greater socio-economic opportunities. In turn, this generates accountability both on the part of the teacher as well as the student, since academic success is measured by one carefully constructed variable. Teachers know exactly what they should teach, students know exactly what they should study, and school districts know exactly where their students should stand, and can compare that standing to the rest of America. If they find that their students are testing lower than students in Minnesota, or California, or Arizona, they can’t blame anyone but themselves—everyone follows the same standard. We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized Testing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Everyone has access to the same materials. And yet, in our quest for standardizing a curriculum to limit testing bias and streamline the testing process, are we also limiting a student’s potential? I remember a high school teacher pulling me aside after I went â€Å"beyond the instructions† on a practice test in class. â€Å"You’re a great writer,† he said, but make sure you follow the directions no matter what. † And what if I thought I could answer the question without using the requisite road-map thesis statement? What if I wanted to subtly unveil my argument, unwrap it like an onion, rather than write my 1000th five-paragraph essay? â€Å"Just follow the directions,† I was told. â€Å"You’ll have plenty of time for creativity later. † The problem with brushing aside creativity for â€Å"following the directions† is that not every student tests well, not every student learns through the same teaching or studying methods, and not every student’s academic prowess can be judged by a streamlined platform. Some students go to college with artistic goals in mind; some need to be creative. And perhaps worst of all is that standardized testing inherently promotes the very bias it tries to eliminate: by making STEM classes (science, technology, engineering, math) the core for a standard curriculum, educators and legislators diminish the importance of liberal arts. Forcing teachers to teach to a standardized test, forcing students to take creative classes as electives (at best), creates a bias against the â€Å"value† of a liberal arts education. Still, standardizing tests for every student in America is efficient and cost-effective. It ensures that every student is at least learning something of value, and who’s to say that students can’t learn other ways of thinking? Maybe they’re artistically minded only because they haven’t really tried anything else? And in the end, what’s driving America the most? Science or English? Technology or art? In other words, are standardized tests a necessary evil? Should we leave a school behind because it can’t catch up? Should we limit a school’s academic pace? Either way you look at it, what to do with our educational system is a complex issue that isn’t easily resolved. Standardized testing free essay sample Standardized testing has assumed a well-known role in recent efforts to advance the quality of education. Regardless of where they went to school or what curriculum they followed, students are tested on the same material, which can be loosely grouped into knowledge domains and skill sets that encompass; natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, reading, speaking, writing, and mathematics. National, state, and district tests, combined with minimum competency, special program, and special diploma evaluations, have resulted in a greatly expanded set of testing requirements for most schools. By definition, a standardized test is a test where the same test is given in the same manner to all test takers. It is administered and scored in a consistent or â€Å"standard† manner. It is designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures and interpretations are consistent, and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. 3 Using standardized tests to perform assessments is beneficial for several reasons. We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized testing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page First, because standardized tests yield quantifiable information (scores, proficiency levels, and so forth), and results can be used in screening programs. Second, standardized test results provide information regarding an examinees areas of strength and weakness. Third, standardized test results allow a student to be compared to age- or grade-peers. And lastly, standardized tests can be used to assess students progress over time (e. g. , re-administering tests after the application of an intervention or following the institution of a remedial program the most significant benefit of results from a test given in a standardized fashion is that the results can be documented and empirically verified. This then allows for the results to be interpreted and ideas about an individuals skills generalized. Although standardized testing is beneficial in some situations, the validity and value of traditional standardized tests are subjects of increasing debate. Recent studies raise questions about whether improvements in test score performance actually signal improvement in learning. Student’s performance on one particular day and does not take into account external factors. There are many people who simply do not perform well on tests. Many of these students are smart and understand the content, but it doesn’t show on the test. Many students also develop test anxiety which hinders performance. Finally, there are so many external factors that play into test performance. If a student has an argument with their parents the morning of the test, chances are their focus isn’t going to be where it should be. In elementary schools less time is being spent on sciences, social studies and the arts to make way for  preparing the students  to take the tests in math, reading and writing. Teachers feel strong pressure, especially from district administrators and the media, to improve their students test scores. With the stakes getting higher and higher for teachers, this practice will only continue to increase. The sad reality is that it fosters an atmosphere that is boring and lacks creativeness. Teachers have such pressure to get their students ready for these exams that they neglect to teach students skills that go beyond the tests. But despite criticisms of standardized testing, the proficient teachers of today do not accept that their students have limitations, or are incapable of learning any given concept. Instead these teacher work hard every day to make material relevant for their children and develop lesson plans that speak to individual lesson plans. While both critiques and proponents of standardized testing could debate their sides all day, the need to assess students to determine both their progress and the progress of their teachers and schools is undeniable. Standardized testing evaluates students early in their education on their readiness both scholastically and behaviorally Students and their parents are able to measure at least generally their progress and areas in which they need. Standardized test shape people’s futures, so they need to be created fairly, so everyone has an equal opportunity to have a successful future. While the jury is still out on whether or not there is a better method of determining individual student progress. The need for a common measure to compare students to bring about change is still more present than ever. Standardized Testing free essay sample You wake up in the morning belated for the bus because of sleeping late. You arrive in school, forgetting to brush your teeth and comb your hair. When you are confronted with the test, you are so tired and you get a pink eye. The next event you know is that you fail the test. Do you want to fail for just having an inadequate day? Standardized testing may cause you to stay in the same grade just for having an inadequate day, not getting enough sleep, etc. Standardized testing should not be about whether you’re smart or not for the next grade, it should be about if the student is learning or not. I believe that standardized testing should not be used to promote student to the next grade only if they accomplish a score of 225 or above. Due to the fact that a standardized test is mostly on language arts and math; some people may not focus on science and social studies. We will write a custom essay sample on Standardized Testing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Science and social studies are essential subjects in schools and are needed throughout your life. Social studies are important because it teaches about geography, different cultures and history from the past. Social studies also teach students how to be well-informed, critically thinking adults of their world. On the other hand, science is also very important because that’s what makes us human. Science teaches the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry and life sciences. It builds up wealth of knowledge, info and data. It solves many questions of life like how does it work, why is it happening and what if. Science and social studies are not subjects that students should avoid because they are very important in many different ways. By not focusing and concentrating on these subjects, you are losing half of your studies. One example of this is if he or she wants to be a scientist, they will have to focus on that subject and show a lot of interest, because you can’t just read it and automatically get it. On the other hand, they have to study hard to get a score of 225 or above. So, this makes them study more on math and language arts than science. So, there may not be a big chance to be a scientist. To sum it up, standardized test shouldn’t be the cause to make a student go to the next grade for having a score of 225 or above. Another thing to consider is homework. By making standardized test a way to romote a student to the next grade level, the student may not do their homework in other subjects. The teachers may not motivate the students to do their homework, because the student’s grade depends on what they get in standardized testing. This will make the students slack off by not doing their homework. Following that, students may concentrate on studying than doing their homewor k. Doing homework is very important because it helps you to remember the things you learned in class. Homework takes the learning experience and lets you apply the essential critical thinking skills. Also homework is important because it teaches children discipline. It helps you budget the time for your activities and homework. By doing homework you keep your brain functioning at a high level throughout the rest of the day and life. For example, if a student doesn’t do their homework, they might forget the information they learned in the class. This will affect them when they are adults because by doing homework it will exercise their brains, teach discipline and teaches you critical thinking skills. These aspects are needed when you are older and work. Even though, there are some disadvantages of homework, homework has a positive impact in education. Doing homework, will not waste your time, it will make you gain more knowledge about the subject. These reasons should be strong enough to persuade the educational researchers to not make standardized test the way to promote the students to the next grade. Even though, standardized test should not be a way to promote a student to the next grade there is also a positive impact in doing so. The advantage is that standardized test is a way to prepare you for more advanced tests in high school such as SATS and ACTS. By making this a way to promote a student to the next grade, this will make the students get better idea at writing essay and how the people will grade it. They also get an idea how to improve their skills in math and get an idea what question will be coming their way. Altogether, this will improve the student’s skills in language arts and math, which are important subjects during the tests. These subjects are important throughout our life. It will intact you to work harder and concentrate on the tests throughout the course of the year. For example, if you don’t study and don’t take the test seriously it will impact you when you take more advanced exams. You will have difficulty when studying and taking the test. Following that, standardized tests make you more independent. Since, throughout the year you have gotten your teachers help and this is the time that â€Å"you† use your knowledge that you learned in to the task. When taking the test you are all by yourself and you are the teacher for your own brain. There is no teachers help; it is just you and your brain during the test. By being more independent you will have an advantage that when you’re in college and studying for all the tests. Standardized test may not always be defective it may be affective in some cases. I believe to make standardized testing not a way to promote a student to the next grade. Students should focus on all subjects not only one or two. They should have motivation from the teachers to tell them to do all of their homework. However, standardized testing also has a positive impact in education. The students should be the next generation of adults and they have got good education to make this happen. Which side are you on?