Standardized tests have been used since 1880 to evaluate individuals for jobs and education. While they provide objective assessments and allow comparisons across groups, they also highlight social disparities. Standardized tests are designed to facilitate comparisons among diverse student populations and guide instructional improvements. They consist of multiple-choice questions and essays, each format assessing different skills, and results are reported in percentiles or other comparative measures. Test specifications serve as blueprints that evolve over time to match the tests' objectives. Language tests evaluate reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking skills using various item types and assessment formats tailored to the test purpose.