Standardized Tests
Standardized Tests: Are they worth it?
For years, children of all ages have been required to take standardized tests in order to assess their capabilities and theoretically prepare them for further education. These tests are often the main factor in acceptance into colleges and universities, used in grade advancement for younger ages, and an overall indicator of a person’s ability. However, because of the lack of variety in the subjects they evaluate, standardized tests are often under scrutiny for whether or not they are actually as necessary as the school systems all across the county make them out to be. With ample evidence supporting both sides of the argument, there are an outstanding amount of students, principles, and community members that stand against the excessive and dependent use of standardized tests. Standardized tests are not accurate depictions of a student’s ability to perform in an academic setting whether it is college or the next grade that they face.
A standardized test is a tool used to evaluate some form of the learning experience for students of all ages. These tests have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world. In 2200 BC, the Chinese government required potential members of the Civil Service to take a written exam in order to test their memorization of age old wisdoms. Later, this exam was disbanded due to a government reform (Young, 2005). However, the trend had already begun to spread. During the Middle Ages, European colleges began to use standardized tests to aid in the application process. These exams continued to grow throughout the continent until they were mainstream in 1805. It was not until 1845 that these tests were introduced and used in the United States when Harvard University added them to their application process (Young, 2005). As much of the country grew during the Industrial Revolution, so did the idea of standardized tests. Employers were now after a more qualified worker which meant a
For years, children of all ages have been required to take standardized tests in order to assess their capabilities and theoretically prepare them for further education. These tests are often the main factor in acceptance into colleges and universities, used in grade advancement for younger ages, and an overall indicator of a person’s ability. However, because of the lack of variety in the subjects they evaluate, standardized tests are often under scrutiny for whether or not they are actually as necessary as the school systems all across the county make them out to be. With ample evidence supporting both sides of the argument, there are an outstanding amount of students, principles, and community members that stand against the excessive and dependent use of standardized tests. Standardized tests are not accurate depictions of a student’s ability to perform in an academic setting whether it is college or the next grade that they face.
A standardized test is a tool used to evaluate some form of the learning experience for students of all ages. These tests have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world. In 2200 BC, the Chinese government required potential members of the Civil Service to take a written exam in order to test their memorization of age old wisdoms. Later, this exam was disbanded due to a government reform (Young, 2005). However, the trend had already begun to spread. During the Middle Ages, European colleges began to use standardized tests to aid in the application process. These exams continued to grow throughout the continent until they were mainstream in 1805. It was not until 1845 that these tests were introduced and used in the United States when Harvard University added them to their application process (Young, 2005). As much of the country grew during the Industrial Revolution, so did the idea of standardized tests. Employers were now after a more qualified worker which meant a
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