Problems With Standardized Testing Essay - 1454 Words

In Standardized Testing and Its Victims, an article written for Education Week, Alfie Kohn states: Standardized testing has swelled and mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to swallow our schools whole.... Our children are tested to an extent that is unprecedented in our history and unparalleled anywhere else in the world. While previous generations of American students have had to sit through tests, never have the tests been given so frequently, and never have they played such a prominent role in schooling. (1) Kohn accurately describes one of the main flaws in America’s education system: standardized testing. According to the article No Child Left Behind, legislation passed in†¦show more content†¦In order for students to score higher, teachers edit the curriculum drastically, change teaching methods, and sometimes resort to dishonesty (5-8). According to a 1990 survey cited by Katie Young in her article, What’s So Bad About Standardized Testing?, nine percent of teachers admitted to cheating to raise test scores. Furthermore, many teachers unintentionally become angry and frustrated with low scoring students, resulting in a more hostile and uncomfortable learning environment. Both teachers and students feel discouraged and suddenly unmotivated after scoring poorly, which eventually affects the entire learning atmosphere (4-5). In How Standardized Testing Damages Education, an article by the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, standardized testing is describe d as â€Å"developmentally inappropriate† (1). The overwhelming amount of pressure that accompanies standardized testing can severely affect students, administration, and the school system as a whole. All of this pressure is caused by a single test that does not even truly display a student’s intelligence. Many researchers have found that the content on standardized test is much too narrow and the multiple choice format limits creativity (Herman and Golan 3). There are so many other factors that truly display a person’s abilities and qualifications, such as involvement in the school, extracurricular activities, and accomplishments inShow MoreRelatedEssay on Problems with Standardized Testing946 Words   |  4 PagesProblems with Standardized Testing â€Å"Where is the standardized test that can measure passion for learning, respect for others, and human empathy?† These are the words of Tom McKenna, a disgruntled high school teacher from Portland, Oregon. Like many other educators and students across the nation, Tom is tired of the system. The educational system today is composed of a series of standardized tests. Standardized tests are bad for many reasons. They cause teachers to limit their curriculum, putRead MoreEssay about The Problems With Standardized Testing1797 Words   |  8 Pagesinformation about their academic achievement. Although educators and administrators claim that the mandatory ability testing programs being initiated in America’s public schools will hold students and teachers accountable for academic achievement, these programs are really causing more problems than they are solving. Mandated standardized testing is also known as â€Å"high-stakes testing†. When the tests are used to evaluate students and to hold educators accountable these tests are deemed to be â€Å"highRead MoreThe Limitations Of Standardized Testing Essay705 Words   |  3 PagesThe limitations of â€Å"standardized testing† as a rigid and narrow criterion for gauging the educational capabilities of students in public education. The criterion for standardized testing relies on narrow areas of knowledge that define a hierarchical imposition of â€Å"intelligence† testing that forces the student to perform ion a constrained academic environment. This type of testing has become a mechanized tool to reject the individual needs of the student in a linear testing methodology. The importanceRead MoreAmerica s Educational System Must Improve Nationally By Removing Standardized Testing1287 Words   |  6 Pageseducational system could improve nationally by removing standardiz ed testing. American has recognized some of the flaws the education system has presented and chose to fix them; however, one of these problems has been standardized testing, which has not been identified nor changed. Standardized testing inflicts many problems to students that need to be fixed immediately. From inefficient teachers to poorer school systems, standardized testing needs to change because it deteriorates America’s educationRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesAlternatives to Standardized Tests:. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/restrict.asp?path=archive/13_03/assess.shtml This article speaks about different approaches at the end of the grading period as opposed to using standardized testing. Other ideas are evaluation of the work the student has done throughout the year, or quarter. This would take the place of using a pen and pencil test like the standardized test we currently use. An alternative to standardized testingRead MoreEmphasis on Standardized Testing Essay1525 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout ones educational career, students are required to take standardized tests to show their progress and if they meet certain requirements they could qualify them for higher educational opportunities. Some common standardized test include: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), and Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL). Standardized tests are designed so that each person taking the test has theRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1177 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing is a no Growing up in Chesapeake every student is forced to take a standardized test at the end of every class they take. Standardized testing has been a part of the educational system for so long that everyone is just accustomed to taking these tests or giving them out. Standardized testing does not just effect the students but it also effects the teachers. Chesapeake School Board should get rid of standardized testing in all grade levels because of different learning styleRead 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 MoreA Brief Note On Death With Standardized Testing1471 Words   |  6 PagesDeath with Standardized Testing High-stakes standardized is a hot topic all across the United States at the moment. Some people are for it while others are against it. As many would argue, standardized testing provides a benchmark for student’s progress in the classroom and that it holds teachers and students accountable for their work. On the contrary, standardized testing is more destructive to a student and even a teacher’s educational experiences. Therefore, standardized testing such as theRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing800 Words   |  4 PagesStandardized tests are not for everyone. Some students are naturally good at taking tests, while others struggle. These tests start as early as the third grade. Students should not have to worry about their future being determined by a test. Standardized testing also causes many problems to some students, such as lowering their confidence level. Schools and teachers have started protests, refusing to participate in in-school testing. à ¢â‚¬ Anti-testing protest is extending beyond Seattle. Across the