Does Standardized Testing Really Work?

1. Does Standardized Testing
Really Work?
Victoria Nguyen
Kendall College
SOE115
Professor O’Bryan
November 11, 2016

2. What is a Standardized Test?
• “A Standardized test is any form of test that requires all test takers
to answer the same questions in the same way and that is scored
in a “standard” or consistent manner. Which makes it possible to
compare the relative performance of individual students or
groups of students.”
• Standardized Tests are a form of assessment.

3. Question
• Does standardized testing accurately measure a student’s
achievement and improve education?
• I wanted to learn more on how and why standardized
tests are used and if they are effective. I am that student
that does well on assignments but terrible on tests. This
always effected my grades.

4. Purpose
• The purpose of standardized
testing is to evaluate their students
progress or lack of. This gives the
schools an idea of what and where
needs improvement.

5. No Child Left Behind
• The NCLB Act of 2001 requires schools to give standardized tests and their
results will determine what funding's they receive.
• Schools are usually tested every year in Math, Reading, Writing, Science, and
Social Studies depending on what state you live in.

6. Pros
• Standardized testing gives teachers, students, and parents a idea of how the
student is doing in core classes.
• Standardized testing holds teachers and schools accountable.
• Testing allows different schools, distracts, states compare results.
• Standardized test results give teacher and schools a guideline on what
students are progressing and or lacking in.

7. Cons
• Standardized tests only evaluate students achievements in core classes such as,
English, Math, and Science.
• Standardized tests do not factor in the notion that some student’s just do not
perform well on tests.
• Standardized testing causes teachers to ”teach by the tests”, meaning they teach only
what the tests focus on.
• Standardized tests puts high pressures and causes high stress on students and
teacher to do well on them.
• Schools depend on good scores to receive federal funds.

8. Analysis
• After all my research I have found more negative stands on standardized
tests than positive ones. I found that although the test do give some guideline
of how the student’s and school are progressing, they do not accurately
factor in subjects such as, art, music, technology, and so on. They focus on
“core” subjects, Math, Reading, Writing, and Science.
• Many parents wrote blog posts about how stressed their children became and
how much pressure one felt. Teachers spoke about how the pressure of how
well their students performed determined how and what they taught.

9. Conclusion
• My definition of what education should be involves a student that is well-rounded
in all aspects. Some students like myself simply are not good test takers but perform
well on assignments and in class. Standardized testing does not measure that
growth. Standardized testing does give some form of guide on how schools can and
should improve but do not give an accurate measure on student’s achievements.
• A student’s achievements should be based more then just one test. It should include
their performance in the classroom, extra curricular activity, art, music, and
technology. A student should be able to show how well they can perform on more
than just core subjects.

10. References
• @. (2015). Standardized Test Definition. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from
http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/
• H. (2011). Why More Standardized Tests Won't Improve Education. Retrieved
November 11, 2016, from http://parentsacrossamerica.org/why-more-
standardized-tests-wont-improve-education/
• Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2016, from
http://worklife.columbia.edu/files_worklife/public/Pros_and_Cons_of_Standardiz
ed_Testing_1.pdf