Standardized Testing Argumentative Analysis

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Standardized testing has been a highly controversial topic in recent decades, especially because of its increasingly emphasized role in the educational process. While standardized testing is highly effective in measuring the quantity of the material being tested over is known by the student, it does not measure many other skills and does not take into account the affect of external factors. In addition, it causes unnecessary stress and pressure on both students and educators. A review of recent literature suggests that standardized testing is not a valid way to measure a student's academic capabilities or cognitive thinking. There are mainly two different kinds of standardized tests, both of which are made to test different skills and a variety of knowledge. Aptitude tests, instead of testing a student's knowledge in a single specific subject, measure the general knowledge.…show more content…
And thus, "some school systems are under great pressure to raise their scores so they have resorted to decreasing (and sometimes doing away with) time spent in recess," which can "have a negative impact on children's social, emotional, and academic well-being" ("Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing," 2013, para. 8). While adding stress, standardized testing may also affect how students act and also their social interactions negatively. Improving tests scores may not mean that students are getting more intellectual, as their other mental skills may not be improving. "Even when students improve their scores on standardized tests, they don't always improve their cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention and speed" (Bidwell, 2013, para. 1), which may cause an inflation in the results of tests. While students are improving their test taking skills, their other skills, which are needed for a higher education, are not being used and

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