Disadvantages Of Standardized Testing

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"A standardized test is any form of test that (1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way, and that (2) 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 Test). Standardized testing first had its start in the the early 1900’s during World War I where” Alpha and Beta army tests [were used] to sort incoming soldiers and to determine their ‘mental fitness’” (Au). But modernized high-stake testing was not officially integrated into the national education system until the publication of National Commission on Excellence in Education, A Nation…show more content…
Fact: “[Minorities] fail...graduation exams” because the test that students take provide no socio economic benefit to them (Woestehoff). Standardized testing has little social or educational benefits to student of color as they are raised with a mindset that it is a waste of time to participate in any activities that do not help them grow and succeed. Unfortunately this mindset along with high stake standardized testing contributes to the achievement gap which refers to the gap in the “academic performance” of minority students when compared to their white and asian peers (Ansell). The gap can be found in many different means of identification of a students performance such as their “grades test scores, drop out rate and college completion rate” (Ansell) . Standardized testing is only put in place to continue the cycle where since students receiving low standardized test scores has shown no correlation in improving college or employment readiness which leads to higher rates of unemployment and lower chances of forming stable families. Topic sentence: Due to the fact that test scores are used to to rank schools and evaluate their proficiency in teaching, educators feel an immense pressure to make sure that their student do well on the…show more content…
Even in the definition of a standardized test it states how the original purpose was to establish a way to be equally be able to rank school in the country for the sole purpose of making sure the each child in the country receives the same education. Because standardized testing makes all student of a certain group all answer the same questions. One assumes that it will not allow for bias as everyone is given the same test or in other words treated the same (Sun). C.Refutation of counter argument This does not address the need of having standardized testing because there are other ways student can be graded in which teachers can be unbiased and it no longer accomplished its purpose. Standardized testing simply creates more problems that it is able to solve. These problems include an academic achievement gap between the minority and the majority, as well as a lower chance of a stable families
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