Standardized testing is used in most states. During standardized testing, all test takers are required to answer the same set of questions. These are exams that usually have multiple-choice, or true or false questions, and test takers are given a certain amount of time to answer all the problems. Standardized testing is usually used to compare the performance of individuals and they are used to compare schools. Millions are spent on these tests every year, since these need to be taken, in order to be accepted in graduate and undergraduate programs. Although most schools make students take standardized tests, I believe it does not measure the knowledge of a student accurately.
Standardized tests are inaccurate due to the amount of stress and pressure put upon the students. During the week of standardized testing, many students become very stressed and feel the pressures from the school to perform at their best. “Standardized tests provoke considerable anxiety among students that seems to increase with their age and experience" Edelstein says . As students become older and the tests become more and more important, they are forced to deal with more stress. For any student it would be almost impossible to not feel this stress about a single test that would determine their entire future. Feeling this stress can have many side effects that could affect how a student feels and tests on the testing day. Some of these side effects of stress can include “disturbed sleep patterns, tiredness, worry, irregular eating habits, increased infections, and inability to concentrate” says Edelstein. With all of these stresses, it is obvious that a student will not be able to perform to the best of their ability when the time to test comes.
Standardized tests are used across America to determine the educational futures of students. These tests determine many different things about a student’s future. One of these things is college admissions. Standardized tests are not just used by a few colleges for admissions. “Approximately 78 percent of schools consider standardized test scores to...
