standardized testing advantages and disadvantages essay

20 Standardized Tests Pros And Cons

Standardized tests are tests that require each student to answer the same set of “standard” questions, and are graded in a uniform and consistent manner. Standard testing has been a topic of debate for many parents, students, and schools in the era of neoliberal education .

Concerns over standardized testing range from how reliable they are in reflecting students’ abilities, to how they could have potential negative impacts on students that may be knowledgeable but struggle with high-stakes test environments.

Still, there are advantages to standardized testing. Standardized tests can be immensely useful to gain a pulse on the quality of the curriculum, and whether it meets specified learning goals and objectives. Standardized tests also help point out areas for improvement in education, and emphasize aspects of students’ education that could be lacking.

There are many legitimate reasons to be in favor of standardized testing, as there are reasons to be against it. Let’s go over the top 20 pros and cons of standardized testing so you can decide for yourself whether you’re in favor or against standardized tests.

Summary: Are Standardized Tests Good or Bad?

Pros of standardized testing, 1. they help you track the progress of education.

Schools need metrics they can reliably use to evaluate students’ progress and see whether teachers are successfully implementing the curriculum. Standardized tests provide a way for school boards and regulatory bodies to determine whether stated educational objectives are being met according to the grade level.

Administering standardized tests on a yearly basis also helps to form a year-over-year analysis of progress made, and introduces benchmarks from which school boards can evaluate whether they have strayed or surpassed the existing average of education being taught. It’s important for schools to be able to compare their academic performance between years, and standardized testing is a reliable way to do so.

2. They help you Identify Areas for Improvement

Standardized testing brings light to areas of the curriculum that are lacking, and can be used to formulate education plans for improvement in those areas. For example, if standardized tests within a school showed that the average test results in math were below grade level, this is helpful for that school to know they need to improve their math curriculum and teaching.

Schools need to understand whether they are meeting their identified learning objectives , and standardized tests offer a way to determine whether they are fulfilling their identified learning goals or not.

3. They Keep Schools Accountable

The value of standardized tests goes beyond that of the individual school, especially when results are used to compare school performance on the national level. When data from standardized tests are generated on a national level, this allows for comparisons between regions and geographic locations, so it’s clear which areas lack in their education and require additional reinforcement.

Standardized testing is an instructive way for governments to gain a pulse on which regions are performing up to standard, above the standard and below the standard. In cases where the results are below average, this expresses that more support or resources are needed to address the educational gap; whereas, in areas where test scores were higher, we can look to such schools to understand what they are doing better and learn from them.

4. Standardized tests are consistent and uniform

Standardized tests provide a reliable and objective method to assess student achievement and learning. While removing all aspects of impartiality is difficult when it comes to scoring tests, since standardized tests require all test-takers to answer the same set of questions, it creates a greater degree of consistency and objectivity in the test results.

Standardized tests are graded by machines or blind reviewers. This is another measure that standardized tests take to achieve a higher degree of impartiality in assessing the test scores.

5. Standardized Tests are Efficient

Most standardized tests are evaluated by machines or AI, which makes assessing standardized tests efficient, less costly and time-consuming. Standardized tests are easy to process, generate significant amounts of education data and create a high-level picture of the state of education.

Essentially standardized tests offer government and regulatory bodies an efficient, low-cost method of extracting large amounts of education data without the burden of substantial associated costs and time investment.

6. They allow you to Compare Students

Parents, students, teachers, school boards and broader governments benefit from the data of standardized tests in seeing where any particular student falls according to the median grade average. The sum of test scores allows schools to make internal comparisons of their performance, comparisons between schools in the same area and schools in different areas.

7. They are clear and Unambiguous

Test scores are black and white and leave no room for interpretation. Student assessments can often be fraught with partiality and subjectivity on the part of the person marking the test.

With standardized tests, the results are unambiguous, clear and impartial.

8. They Can Motivate Students

Students that want to do well on standardized tests are more motivated to study and learn the course material to get a better grade. For some students, a standardized test is an effective motivator to get students to learn better and take school more seriously.

Students are well aware of the importance of high test scores, particularly with respect to the SATs. Lots of students take these tests seriously and spend significant time preparing so they can do well on them.

9. They Provide Consistency Across Education Programs

Education is not limited to the public school setting. Education is offered by various organizations, institutions and homes. Parents that decide to homeschool their kids benefit from the standardized tests because this shows whether their teaching met or exceeds public school standards .

Similarly, private schools and charter schools also benefit from standardized tests by being able to make these same comparisons between their education curriculum and that of traditional public schools.

10. They Instil Good Learning Habits

All tests require students to prepare to be able to take them and do well. Standardized tests are no different. They encourage students to study hard, to develop good study habits that stick and to learn the course material.

Ultimately, all learning is good learning, and while standardized testing has various issues (which we will discuss) the underlying aim to encourage learning and see what progress is made is a positive aspect of education which ought to be encouraged.

Cons Of Standardized Tests

1. they are not accurate reflections of student ability.

Lots of students struggle with test-taking and face anxiety when it comes to these types of assessments. Level of stress, mood and emotional state can all impact a person’s ability when it comes to completing these kinds of assessments. As a result, it makes it difficult to know whether these tests are truly reflective of students’ skills and competencies.

For students that face greater difficulty with test-taking, it is possible that standardized tests produce inaccurate results which could have other, negative impacts on the student’s well-being and potential future opportunities.

2. They Cause Stress

Standardized testing can be a major source of stress for students and teachers alike. It’s well-known that many students don’t perform well on tests, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these students are any less knowledgeable or educated than the students that do perform well.

Standardized tests create performance anxiety, and many students feel overwhelmingly bound by these test scores to get accepted into top schools. Teachers are also indirectly assessed by standardized tests because student performance is reflective of how well kids are being taught. Evidently, when students do not perform well because of stress-related factors, this does not reflect negatively on the teacher, though it may be interpreted that way.

3. Teachers ‘Teach to the Test’

When students need to prepare students for standardized tests, this can impact the way they teach the course material and it can result in teachers ‘teaching to the test,’ rather than the real goal of ensuring students truly understand the material.

Teaching to the test often involves rote learning (memorization of answers) rather than serious engagement with the process of learning. Education theorist Paolo Friere called this the ‘ banking model ‘, which discourages creative and process thinking, and instead encourages shallow memorization of information.

This could have the effect of a more surface-layer education, or the material only being understood by students at a shallow level since they are learning how to do well on the test rather than learning the contents of the subject in and of themselves.

4. They Negatively Impact Student Self-Esteem

When students score poorly on standardized tests, it’s easy for students to feel that these grades are indicators of their overall intelligence and their capacity to do well. Unfortunately, test scores can seriously impact a student’s own sense of their educational capabilities, and they can hinder their progress moving forward.

For example, if a student doesn’t test well, they might simply believe they are not good at school, or that they aren’t smart or cut out for it. Consequently, the student’s attitude towards education and learning is impacted, and they may be disengaged moving forward in their education.

5. They Pose Barriers to Future Opportunities

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test that is used for admissions to colleges in the United States. The SAT has garnered significant criticism in recent years, with nearly 1600 schools in the US opting out of standardized tests as part of the “test-optional” movement .

Students that do not score well on the SATs have a much harder time getting admitted to top colleges and post-secondary institutions. The issue is that in cases where SAT scores are not reflective of the individual student’s abilities, then their test results impact their future opportunities based on this inaccurate assessment of their academic temperament and potential.

6. They Disproportionately Favor White Students

Studies repeatedly show that non-minority students and white students from more affluent communities score better on standardized tests than their non-white counterparts.

While the disparity in test results stresses the need to address educational gaps in underserved communities, the gap also raises questions about the fairness of the test questions themselves (or other factors that might cause the disparity.)

Whatever the reason for the gap in education across white students and non-white students, this gap in test scores creates further inequality and inequitable access to higher education.

7. Education is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ situation

Everyone is different—this means we all learn at a different pace, and have different academic aptitudes and preferences. Education should not be viewed through a cookie-cutter or ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; that said, standardized testing looks to apply education and understand its outcomes in this way.

Standardized tests are not inclusive of differing learning styles and applies the same set of rules for each student completing the assessment. Treating each student the exact same fails to recognize important ways in which we learn and understand educational materials.

8. Standardized Tests are Not Comprehensive

When it comes to standardized tests, it’s important that schools do not see test scores as a comprehensive reflection of a student’s academic capabilities. Besides this, schools should not base their admissions decisions on the sole basis of test results, because this ignores other factors that are relevant to the student’s skills and competencies.

Exclusively relying on the results of standardized tests to form decisions on student admissions to schools would result in many students being denied admission unfairly. Just because a student may not have performed well on a single assessment, this shouldn’t be the sole determinant for whether they get into a good college or not. Other metrics for student assessment must be considered in these admissions processes.

9. Students Learn to the Test

Just like teachers can teach to the test, students can learn to score well on the test too. The problem is that learning to the ‘test’ underdetermines real learning of the subject material.

This encourages learning not for learning’s sake, but for the sake of scoring high on a test. Learning should be encouraged for its own purposes, and standardized testing places the focus on scores rather than learning in itself.

10. Exams Do Not Show College Readiness Soft Skills

Proponents of standardized testing argued that the tests would help highschool students prepare for college and make the transition smoother.

Despite their belief, the numbers tell a different story. High test scores on standardized tests have not correlated with greater student readiness to enter college. It is also not clear how it would result in students being more prepared for college in the first place.

Rather, the number of schools that are dropping the requirements for standardized testing is skyrocketing. These schools are making it optional for students to take standardized tests, and are part of the “test-optional” movement.

When it comes to standardized testing, the important thing is that the test scores are not seen as the total picture of a student’s abilities, but rather as part of a broader assessment or understanding. Testing data should be used to gain a general sense of how education is going, and whether learning objectives are being met or not. Standardized tests shouldn’t be seen as comprehensive, and schools should not base their admissions decisions solely on the scores of standardized tests.

Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil)

Dalia Yashinsky is a freelance academic writer. She graduated with her Bachelor's (with Honors) from Queen's University in Kingston Ontario in 2015. She then got her Master's Degree in philosophy, also from Queen's University, in 2017.

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Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

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12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

Standardized testing has been around for several generations. In the United States, standardized tests have been used to evaluate student performance since the middle of the 19th century. Virtually every person who has attended a public or private school has taken at least one standardized test.

The advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing are quite unique. On one hand, these tests provide a way to compare student knowledge to find learning gaps. On the other hand, not every student performs well on a test, despite having a comprehensive knowledge and understanding about the subject matter involved. Here are some of the key points to consider.

What Are the Advantages of Standardized Testing?

1. It has a positive impact on student achievement. According to a review of testing research that has been conducted over the past century, over 90% of students have found that standardized tests have a positive effect on their achievement. Students feel better about their ability to comprehend and know subject materials that are presented on a standardized test. Even if a perfect score isn’t achieved, knowing where a student stands helps them be able to address learning deficits.

2. It is a reliable and objective measurement of achievement. Standardized tests allow for a reliable measurement of student success that isn’t influenced by local factors. Local school districts and teachers may have a vested interest in the outcomes of testing and the desire to produce a favorable result can create inaccurate test results. Because standardized tests are graded by computers, they are not as subject to human bias or subjectivity, which makes them a more accurate reflection of student success.

3. Standardized tests allow for equal and equivalent content for all students. This means a complete evaluation of students from an equal perspective can be obtained. Using alternate tests or exempting children from taking a standardized test creates unequal systems, which then creates one group of students who is accountable to their results and another group of students that is unaccountable. It is a system that looks at every child through equal eyes.

4. A standardized test teaches students prioritization. Standardized testing covers core subject materials that students need for success in other subject areas. Without reading, for example, it would be difficult to learn how to write properly. Without mathematics, it would be difficult to pursue scientific concepts. The goal of a standardized test is to cover core subject materials that will help students excel in other related subjects, giving them the chance to master core curriculum items so they can move on to correlating subjects with greater ease.

5. It allows school districts to discover their good teachers. Good teachers understand that test preparation drills and specific core instructions to “teach to a test” are not the best way to encourage learning. Repetition does not produce test score gains, but teaching a curriculum that allows students to explore a subject according to their interests, with teacher guidance, will do so. Test-taking skills and memorization do not promote understanding and districts which take these actions continually show low overall standardized testing scores.

What Are the Disadvantages of Standardized Testing?

1. It has not had a positive impact on student education. Since 2002, when the United States added more emphasis to standardized testing, it has dropped in global education rankings. From 2002-2009, the US went from being ranked 18th in the world in mathematic to being ranked 31st in the world. The rankings in science also dropped in a similar way, while reading comprehension remained largely unchanged. According to the National Research Council, even incentive programs tied to standardized testing results are not working to improve student comprehension, understanding, and knowledge.

2. Standardized testing can be predictable. Students who are aware of patterns can determine what the answers to a standardized test could be by only knowing a handful of answers with certainty. This predictability reflects the natural human bias that occurs in every action or reaction we have in any endeavor. It also means test scores can be high without reflecting student understanding. Brookings found that up to 80% of test score improvements in test scores can have nothing to do with long-term learning changes.

3. They assume that all students start from the same point of understanding. Standardized tests may allow for a direct comparison of data, but they do not account for differences in the students who are taking the tests. In the US, standardized tests could be considered discriminatory in some regions because they assume that the student is a first-language English speaker. Students who have special needs, learning disabilities, or have other challenges which are addressed by an Individualized Education Plan may also be at a disadvantage when taking a standardized test compared to those who do not have those concerns.

4. Standardized tests only look at raw comprehension data. Students learn in a variety of ways. People have many different strengths that may not be reflected in the context of a standardized test. Traits like creativity, enthusiasm, empathy, curiosity, or resourcefulness cannot be tracked by these tests, even though they are highly desirable traits in modern careers. A standardized test could determine the knowledge a student has about musical theory, but it cannot judge the quality of a composition that a student might create.

5. Teacher evaluations have been tied to standardized test results. Many teachers are being evaluated on the work that their students do on a standardized test. Based on the classroom grades achieved, a teacher might receive a raise or be fired from their job. This creates a host of learning problems. For starters, only the students who are performing poorly on testing simulations receive a majority of the attention from the teacher, leaving good students to fend for themselves. Teachers then begin to “teach to the test” instead of teaching subject materials to obtain needed results. This creates a reduction of higher-order thinking, reduces complex assignments, and prevents cognitive understanding.

6. Standardized tests narrow the curriculum. According to the Center on Education Policy, from 2001-2007, school districts in the United States reduced the amount of time spent on social studies, creative subjects, and science by over 40%. This results in the average student losing more than 2 hours of instruction time in these areas so that they can focus on subjects that are on standardized tests, such as reading and math.

7. More time is spent on test preparation instead of actual learning. Many school districts, especially those with lower test scores, spend more classroom time on test preparation than learning the curriculum. In 2010, New York City took the extraordinary measure of including 2.5-hour test preparation sessions on scheduled school vacation days.

The advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing show that it can be a useful tool for student evaluation, but only when it is used correctly. Like any system, it can be abused by those who are looking for shortcuts. That is why each key point must be carefully considered before implementing or making changes to a plan of standardized testing.

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What Is Standardized Testing? The Pros and Cons and More

They’re used a lot in education, but what exactly are they?

Standardized testing is a hot-button topic, one that’s fraught with controversy. While these assessments have been around for decades, the increase in testing in the last 20 years or so has brought the issue to the forefront. As parents consider opting their students out and some states seek to do away with them , it’s worth asking: What exactly is standardized testing, and why do we focus on it so heavily?

What is standardized testing?

Source: StateImpact

In a standardized test, every student responds to the same questions (or questions from same question bank), under the exact same set of conditions. They are often made up of multiple-choice questions and are given on paper or (more commonly these days) on a computer. Experts choose the questions carefully to test a specific set of skills and knowledge.

Large groups of students take the same standardized tests, not just those in the same class or school. This gives people the chance to compare results across a specific group, usually children of the same age or grade level.

What are some types of standardized tests?

There are different types of standardized tests, including:

• Diagnostic test: These often help determine if a student qualifies for special education services. They can test academic, physical and fine motor skills, social and behavioral skills, and more. Examples might be a hearing test or a learning disability test.
• Achievement test: This type of test measures a student’s current strengths and weaknesses in a particular area, almost always academic subjects. Examples include the SAT, the Iowa Assessments, and the tests many states use at certain grade levels.

See a list of popular standardized tests here.

How are standardized tests scored?

Each individual standardized test has its own scoring mechanism. Usually, a student earns a score based on the number of correct answers they give. Those scores can be analyzed in two different ways: criterion-referenced and norm-referenced.

Criterion-Referenced Scoring

Source: Criterion-Based Testing/Renaissance

In this type of scoring, a student’s results are measured against predetermined standards, not against other test takers’ results. Their scores might help educators place them in categories like “proficient,” “advanced,” or “deficient.”

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are an excellent example of criterion-referenced tests. Students earn a score on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest. They earn these scores based on preset standards. Students aren’t ranked in comparison to one another.

Another example would be a driver’s license test. Students pass or fail based on their answers, with no reference to how others score. Criterion-referenced tests help measure a student’s personal achievements, regardless of their age or grade level.

Norm-Referenced Scoring

Source: Norm-Based Testing/Renaissance

In norm-referenced tests, students are ranked based on their scores. This places them into “percentiles,” which measure how they performed compared to their peers. If a student is in the 58th percentile, it means they scored higher than 58% of all the students who took the exam. It’s usually better to rank in a higher percentile.

Most state standardized tests are norm-referenced, as are IQ tests. A student can perform well on a test, but if their peers performed better, they will still be ranked in a lower percentile. These scores are ranked on a bell curve.

You can think of norm-referenced tests the same way you might think of a growth chart at the doctor’s office. Doctors know the average height for a child at a certain age. They can then compare a specific child to those averages, to determine if they are shorter or taller than average.

Learn more about criterion-referenced vs. norm-referenced tests here.

What are standardized tests used for?

Standardized tests are meant to give educators a chance to determine how effective their instruction strategies are overall. They can also help identify strengths and weaknesses in students, so these students can receive individualized attention as needed. Many consider them an important way to be sure all students across a state or even the nation are learning to the same basic educational standards.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 first required schools to use standardized tests. This act provided funding to schools to ensure every student had access to equal education opportunities, and used standardized tests to determine how schools were performing against national averages. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 ramped up standardized testing even further. It tied some federal funding to student test scores, and raised the stakes for schools dramatically.

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 currently requires annual statewide tests in reading/language arts and mathematics to all students in grades 3-8 and once during the high school years. States also must test on science at least once in each of grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

What are the benefits to standardized testing?

Source: ViewSonic

Proponents of standardized tests consider these factors to be among the benefits:

• Standardization of quality curriculum: By requiring standardized tests, schools across the country can be sure they’re teaching the basic skills and knowledge every student needs at specific ages. Experts determine the skills and knowledge they feel will equip students to succeed in the larger world after they graduate.
• Equality and equity: Lower-income populations have long been underserved by traditional educational systems. By requiring all schools to meet the same educational standards, as measured by tests, education becomes more equitable for all.
• Removal of bias: When computers or impartial graders score tests objectively, it eliminates potential bias. (This assumes the test writers created non-biased questions.)
• Measure of effective instruction: High-ranking schools may be able to share their instruction methods with those who rank lower, encouraging ingenuity and cooperation across the system. Tests can determine where teachers may need more training, or where additional funding could help schools improve their programs.

Learn about more potential benefits of standardized testing here.

What are some drawbacks of standardized testing?

Source: NEA

Despite the potential benefits, the backlash against increased testing has become louder in recent years . Teachers, students, and parents worry about many factors, including:

Over-Testing

In a nationwide study of the largest urban schools , students took an average of 112 standardized tests from kindergarten through graduation. Students may spend as many as 19 hours or more taking these tests each year. And this doesn’t include time spent on test prep or practice tests.

What’s more, teachers often note that standardized tests don’t match up with their textbooks or other materials. Sometimes they don’t even match the state educational standards. And even when they do, the standards may not be particularly relevant or useful for every student.

Learn why teachers wish they had more involvement in standardized test development.

Test Anxiety

Taking a test is never a laid-back process, and never more so than during standardized tests. Students are scrutinized from all angles to make sure they don’t cheat. Teachers have to perform that scrutiny and often undergo some of it themselves.

There’s so much pressure to do well on these tests that kids can feel like it’s a life-or-death situation. Their anxiety goes through the roof, and even those who know the material thoroughly may not perform well under the pressure. And more and more districts evaluate teachers based at least in part on student test scores. This can affect their salaries and chances for advancement.

More Kids Than Ever Are Dealing With Test Anxiety, and We Need to Help

Lost Instructional Time

With days lost to taking tests, not to mention all the time spent preparing, other educational aspects fall by the wayside. Teachers lose the chance to give students more meaningful hands-on experiences. They eliminate unique and engaging projects or activities that don’t directly relate to items included on tests. As the saying goes, they “teach to the test,” and nothing more.

Read what one teacher would really like to tell their students about benchmark testing.

Lack of Useful Data

Many teachers will tell you that they can predict almost exactly how their students will score on the standardized assessments. In other words, these tests aren’t giving them any new information. Teachers already know which students are struggling and which have mastered the necessary skills and knowledge. Generated data rarely seems to provide any useful direct benefits to teachers or students.

See the 7 Biggest Complaints Teachers Have About Testing—and How to Fix Them.

Still have more questions about standardized testing? Join the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook to chat with other educators.

Plus, these test-taking strategies will help students pass with ease ..

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Standardized Tests: The Benefits and Impacts of Implementing Standardized Tests

February 24th, 2022

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Lisa Tunnell, M.Ed.

Jr. Product Manager

A standardized test is any type of test in which all test takers must address the same questions or subset of questions from a shared pool. Standardized testing creates a baseline for measuring student performance among districts, maintains teacher responsibility, and aids educators while developing their curriculum.

The Need for Standardized Tests

When assessing student comprehension or competency in a particular subject area, a given teacher may use a variety of methods. Given the subjective nature of individual teacher and district assessments, standardized tests allow for less probability of subjective bias when scoring responses. To complete exam questions for these types of tests, the time allotment is the same for each student, and the use of multiple-choice or true-false problems increases the chance of neutral and accurate outcomes.

In the United States, standardized testing begins in elementary (primary) school. For roughly half of the nation, a Kindergarten competency test is mandatory. Students frequently take the ACT or SAT while applying to universities. Individuals take the LSAT when applying to law school and the MCAT if they are applying to medical school.

The following are reasons why standardized tests are prevalent in United States school systems:

Assessing data and performing quantitative analysis of that data are both design goals for standardized assessment exams. This enables schools to benchmark and evaluate their students' performance against the representative sample used in the standardization process using the final published assessments.

A child’s standardized test scores could help teachers decide how to address knowledge gaps in a particular subject.

School administrators can also use test scores to figure out if specific teachers need more training. If some classes are underperforming relative to state standards, more teacher training may need to be completed.

Benefits of Standardized Tests

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, standardized examinations have been used in the United States to measure student achievement.

Standardized testing can: 

1. Establish a universal educational standard.

The objective of standardized is to set a baseline for comparison. Any form of assessment outside of school curricula, which might vary considerably within different education departments, can help a school system compare students from varied backgrounds because all the students took the same test. It becomes easier to evaluate and score individuals when they are measured against a common standard.

2. Demonstrate student progress.

Standardized exams can show student improvement over time by taking the same tests over time. In addition, student test scores can also be easily compared to each other to show changes in progress.

3. Ensure that all educational stakeholders are held accountable.

Ideally, standardized exams assist in defining bigger academic standards for schools across states and the nation. By measuring student achievement, standardized exams can also inform educational policies. School principals and governments are aware that if students in a specific school or district are struggling to achieve at a grade level, the school administration and community stakeholders should intervene and offer help.

Negative Impacts of Standardized Testing

1. Standardized testing can be predictable.

Students who are mindful of patterns can guess answers on a standardized exam based on questions where they definitely know the answers. Thus, high exam results aren't always indicative of student comprehension. According to Brookings , up to 80% of test score gains might have little to do with long-term learning improvements.

2. Standardized testing doesn’t measure intelligence.

While advocates claim that standardized examinations give an objective assessment of student success, the facts are more nuanced. Evidence reveals that socioeconomic class, rather than schooling or grade level, is the biggest predictor of SAT achievement. Opponents of the SAT contend that injustice emerges because wealthier families have the money and effort to invest in test practice tools and services.

3. Standardized testing may have a negative impact on a student's self-esteem.

Another allegation is that standardized testing could make previously successful students doubt themselves and their abilities. Many students suffer from test anxiety, which means they don't perform at their best while taking an exam since the experience of taking a test is so upsetting to them.

4. The curriculum is narrowed through standardized testing.

Between 2001 and 2007 , school systems in the United States cut the average time spent on social studies, creative subjects, and science by more than 40%, according to the Center for Education Policy. Consequently, the average student lost more than 2 hours of teaching time in these disciplines to focus on standardized exam topics like reading and arithmetic.

In Conclusion

Standardized testing has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, these assessments allow educators to compare student knowledge to identify learning gaps. It is important to note that even if a student has an in-depth understanding of a particular course, not every student may perform well on a test. However, knowing a lot about a subject can help anyone be a more knowledgeable and prepared exam taker.

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Effects of Standardized Testing on Students & Teachers: Key Benefits & Challenges

The use of standardized testing to measure academic achievement in US schools has fueled debate for nearly two decades. Understanding the effects of standardized testing—its key benefits and challenges—requires a closer examination of what standardized testing is and how it’s used in academic settings.

Developing ways to effectively and fairly measure academic achievement is an ongoing challenge for school administrators. For those inspired to promote greater equity in education, American University’s online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Education Policy and Leadership provides the knowledge and training to address such challenges.

What Are Standardized Tests?

Standardized tests are examinations administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. They typically rely heavily on question formats, such as multiple choice and true or false, that can be automatically scored. Not limited to academic settings, standardized tests are widely used to measure academic aptitude and achievement.

The ACT and SAT, standardized tests used broadly for college admissions, assess students’ current educational development and their aptitude for completing college-level work. Standardized academic achievement tests are mandatory in primary and secondary schools in the US, where they’re designed and administered at the state or local level and used to assess requirements for federal education funding.

Standardized testing requirements are designed to hold teachers, students, and schools accountable for academic achievement and to incentivize improvement. They provide a benchmark for assessing problems and measuring progress, highlighting areas for improvement.

Despite these key benefits, standardized academic achievement tests in US public schools have been controversial since their inception. Major points of contention have centered on who should design and administer tests (federal, state, or district level), how often they should be given, and whether they place some school districts at an advantage or disadvantage. More critically, parents and educators have questioned whether standardized tests are fair to teachers and students.

Effects of Standardized Testing on Students

Some of the challenging potential effects of standardized testing on students are as follows:

• Standardized test scores are often tied to important outcomes, such as graduation and school funding. Such high-stakes testing can place undue stress on students and affect their performance.
• Standardized tests fail to account for students who learn and demonstrate academic proficiency in different ways. For example, a student who struggles to answer a multiple-choice question about grammar or punctuation may be an excellent writer.
• By placing emphasis on reading, writing, and mathematics, standardized tests have devalued instruction in areas such as the arts, history, and electives.
• Standardized tests are thought to be fair because every student takes the same test and evaluations are largely objective, but a one-size-fits-all approach to testing is arguably biased because it fails to account for variables such as language deficiencies, learning disabilities, difficult home lives, or varying knowledge of US cultural conventions.

Effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers

Teachers as well as students can be challenged by the effects of standardized testing. Common issues include the following:

• The need to meet specific testing standards pressures teachers to “teach to the test” rather than providing a broad curriculum.
• Teachers have expressed frustration about the time it takes to prepare for and administer tests.
• Teachers may feel excessive pressure from their schools and administrators to improve their standardized test scores.
• Standardized tests measure achievement against goals rather than measuring progress.
• Achievement test scores are commonly assumed to have a strong correlation with teaching effectiveness, a tendency that can place unfair blame on good teachers if scores are low and obscure teaching deficiencies if scores are high.

Alternative Achievement Assessments

Critics of standardized testing often point to various forms of performance-based assessments as preferable alternatives. Known by various names (proficiency-based, competency-based), they require students to produce work that demonstrates high-level thinking and real-world applications. Examples include an experiment illustrating understanding of a scientific concept, group work that addresses complex problems and requires discussion and presentation, or essays that include analysis of a topic.

Portfolio-based assessments emphasize the process of learning over letter grades and normative performance. Portfolios can be made up of physical documents or digital collections. They can include written assignments, completed tests, honors and awards, art and graphic work, lab reports, or other documents that demonstrate either progress or achievement. Portfolios can provide students with an opportunity to choose work they wish to reflect on and present.

Performance-based assessments aren’t a practical alternative to standardized tests, but they offer a different way of evaluating knowledge that can provide a more complete picture of student achievement. Determining which systems of evaluation work best in specific circumstances and is an ongoing challenge for education administrators.

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Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

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• M.Ed., Educational Administration, Northeastern State University
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Like many issues in public education , standardized testing can be a controversial topic among parents, teachers, and voters. Many people say standardized testing provides an accurate measurement of student performance and teacher effectiveness. Others say such a one-size-fits-all approach to assessing academic achievement can be inflexible or even biased. Regardless of the diversity of opinion, there are some common arguments for and against standardized testing in the classroom .

Standardized Testing Pros

Proponents of standardized testing say that it is the best means of comparing data from a diverse population, allowing educators to digest large amounts of information quickly. They argue that:

It's accountable.  Probably the greatest benefit of standardized testing is that educators and schools are responsible for teaching students what they are required to know for these standardized tests. This is mostly because these scores become public record, and teachers and schools that don’t perform up to par can come under intense examination. This scrutiny can lead to the loss of jobs. In some cases, a school can be closed or taken over by the state.

It's analytical.  Without standardized testing, this comparison would not be possible. Public school students in Texas , for example, are required to take standardized tests, allowing test data from Amarillo to be compared to scores in Dallas. Being able to accurately analyze data is a primary reason that many states have adopted the Common Core state standards .

It's structured.  Standardized testing is accompanied by a set of established standards or an instructional framework to guide classroom learning and test preparation. This incremental approach creates benchmarks to measure student progress over time.

It's objective.  Standardized tests are often scored by computers or by people who do not directly know the student to remove the chance that bias would affect the scoring. Tests are also developed by experts, and each question undergoes an intense process to ensure its validity—that it properly assesses the content—and its reliability, which means that the question tests consistently over time.

It's granular.  The data generated by testing can be organized according to established criteria or factors, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and special needs. This approach provides schools with data to develop targeted programs and services for improving student performance.

Standardized Testing Cons

Opponents of standardized testing say educators have become too fixated on scores and preparing for these exams. Some of the most common arguments against testing are:

It's inflexible.  Some students may excel in the classroom yet not perform well on a standardized test because they're unfamiliar with the format or develop test anxiety. Family strife, mental and physical health issues, and language barriers can all affect a student's test score. But standardized tests don't allow personal factors to be taken into consideration.

It's a waste of time.  Standardized testing causes many teachers to teach to the tests, meaning they only spend instructional time on material that will appear on the test. Opponents say this practice lacks creativity and can hinder a student’s overall learning potential.

It can't measure true progress.  Standardized testing only evaluates one-time performance instead of a student's progress and proficiency over time. Many would argue that teacher and student performance should be evaluated for growth over the course of the year instead of one single test.

It's stressful.  Teachers and students alike feel test stress. For educators, poor student performance may result in a loss of funding and teachers being fired. For students, a bad test score may mean missing out on admission to the college of their choice or even being held back. In Oklahoma, for example, high school students must pass four standardized tests in order to graduate, regardless of their GPA. (The state gives seven standardized end-of-instruction (EOI) exams in Algebra I, Algebra II, English II, English III, Biology I, geometry and U.S. history. Students who fail to pass at least four of these exams can’t get a high school diploma.)

It's political.  With public and charter schools both competing for the same public funds, politicians and educators have come to rely even more on standardized test scores. Some opponents of testing argue that low-performing schools are unfairly targeted by politicians who use academic performance as an excuse to further their own agendas.

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• Contrasting Growth and Proficiency Models for Student Achievement
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• Advantages and Disadvantages of Lecturing
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• Essential Standardized Test Taking Tips for Parents
• Classroom Assessment Best Practices and Applications

Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is a common method for assessing the performance of students and by extension, the performance of teachers and educational institutions using a testing instrument with standardized questions, as well as uniformed administration conditions, scoring procedures, and interpretation. Essentially, any test that is given in the same manner to all test participants, and scored and interpreted in the same manner for everyone is a standardized test.

Although standardized testing has been widely used in education, particularly in different education systems in different countries, the continued patronage for such assessment methodology has been criticized due to its limitations and alleged ineffectiveness.

Pros: The Benefits and Advantages of Standardized Testing

1. instrumental in developing education policies.

One of the advantages of standardized testing centers on the fact that it has been very useful in the development and implementation of education policies and thereby, in regulating the education system within a particular jurisdiction. Standardized tests demonstrate the scope and limitation of a standardized curriculum, thus defining the scope of the roles and responsibilities of teachers and educational institutions.

In the book “Kill The Messenger: The War On Standardized Testing,” education researcher Richard Philips mentioned that standards lead to the design and deployment of a common curriculum. He reminded that a common curriculum is based on consensus, particularly on the decision of the greater public. Without standardized testing, teachers and institutions will have a high degree of freedom when it comes to developing and implementing lesson plans.

2. Produces Empirical and Objective Results

The fact that standardized tests produce quantitative results that can be empirically documented means that the numerical scores have a comparative degree of validity and reliability, as well as results that are generalizable and replicable. Note that a study by N. R. Kuncel and S. A. Hezlett demonstrated that standardized admission tests are valid predictors of several aspects of student success across academic and applied fields.

It is also important to highlight the fact that standardized tests are developed by doctorate professionals with specializations in tests and measurements. Phelps noted that not all teachers have a relevant level of competencies in testing and measurement. Hence, the individualized tests they produce are not guaranteed to produce results that accurately represent the performance of students.

3. Encourages Accountability of Learners and Educators

Another advantage of standardized testing is that it promotes accountability among teachers, institutions, and students, as well as parents and policymakers. For teachers and institutions, administering standardized tests allow them to recognize how their students are performing compared to students from other schools or jurisdictions, hence enabling them further to adjust their teaching methodology to accommodate learning needs.

Because results of standardized tests are quantitative and empirical, students are able to track their performance and compare their progress relative to their peers. In the same manner, these results provide parents or legal guardians with information about the performance of their children and not to mention, the competencies of their teachers.

4. Suitable in Benchmarking and Determining Best Practices

Related to its role in supporting the development and implementation of education policies, as well as in encouraging accountability among learners and educators, is the function of standardized testing in evaluating the performance of students, educators, and institutions through comparison with standards defined by benchmarks and industry practices.

Take note that educational institutions and relevant bodies often gauge the performance of their curriculum by comparing test scores from across the nation or the world. In the international setting, several international benchmark tests have been administered to schools to determine their alignment with global standards or practices. Such include the “Trends In International Mathematics and Science Study” or TIMMS and the “Progress In International Reading Literacy Study” or PIRLS.

5. Useful in Recognizing Cases of Academic Dishonesty

Standardized testing seems to support academic dishonesty because of the way it systematizes or mechanizes the entire assessment procedure. Take note that instances of test leakages have been extensively documented and publicized. Polls have also revealed that an overwhelming number of students have cheated at least once on their exams. Some teachers have also rigged test results to promote their interests. Critics have raised these points whenever they argue against the standardization of performance assessment in education.

However, Philips argued that because cheating is easier with standardized testing, it is also easy to detect and thus, easy to prevent through penalization. An analysis of test results and their comparison with other facets of academic performance can reveal telltale patterns. This can be helpful in pinning down cheaters, providing appropriate sanctions, and sending a message across the academic community.

Cons: The Limitations and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

1. disregards different learning styles and challenges.

Every student learns differently. In the book “Now You See It,” American scholar and university professor Cathy N. Davidson argued that the use of standardized testing demonstrates a one-size-fits-all approach to learning in which students are placed in an “assembly line” model, thus disregarding different learning challenges and discouraging critical and creative thinking.

Several studies have explored the limitations and negative impacts of standardized testing in learning. For example, D. I Rubin and C. J. Kazanjan revealed in their review that the use of standardized testing and strict curriculum do not necessarily increase student performance, thus suggesting a misalignment with the primary purpose of imparting learning and promoting development. Another review study by H. Morgan also mentioned that the results of standardized tests do not account for the real capabilities of students. Furthermore, these tests do not adequately assess skills in reasoning, creativity, research, and interpersonal communication.

2. Limits the Methodologies and Creativity in Teachings

Similar to the argument that standardized testing disregards differences in learning styles, there is also an argument that it limits teachers and instructions, especially in delivering instructions and employing other teaching methodologies. The review of Rubin and Kazanjan mentioned that classroom interactions or student-teacher relationships center primarily on practicing for a standardized test, dropping other challenging topics or activities from the curriculum.

Morgan also noted in his review that standardization also promotes an approach that harms teachers because of the mechanical and restrictive style of teaching such requires them to employ. Teachers do not have the power to change the curriculum or use other approaches in motivating students. They end up using methods and materials which they did not take any part in creating. In other words, standardization demonstrates the minimal control of teachers over the teaching and learning environment.

3. Ineffective in Gauging Real Academic Performance

Three factors influence the performance of students or more appropriately, their test scores according to education and information studies professor W. James Popham. These factors are: what the students learn in school, what they learn outside of the school, and their innate intelligence or competencies. Popham pointed out that teachers and schools only have control over one of these three factors.

Some teachers have also raised an argument against the extensive use and promotion of standardized testing. They contend that standardized tests only measure the current knowledge of students while failing to account for academic progress for an entire year, as well as for other facets of learning. Furthermore, they also noted that the immediate supervisors of learners are the best creators and facilitators of tests because they have the first-hand awareness of the necessities and abilities of their students.

4. Promotes Unhealthy Competition Among Educators

One of the primary purposes of employing standardized testing within a jurisdiction is to regulate and evaluate the performance of students and thereby, the performance of teachers and institutions. However, as mentioned by Morgan, this system rewards educators based on the score of their students, thus compelling them to disregard collaboration with other educators or withhold skills and knowledge in teaching to maintain a competitive advantage.

Morgan explains that collaboration enhances the teaching and learning environment, thus benefitting the students. In a system that uses standardized testing to gauge the performance of educators, students are at the losing end as teachers and their schools use methods to outperform each other. Hence, students become dependent only on their immediate environment, particularly on the expertise of a limited number of teachers.

5. Marginalization of Minorities and Learners with Special Needs

Another disadvantage of standardized testing centers on its negative impacts on certain subgroups of the population. For example, the separate review studies of Rubin and Kazanjan, and Morgan mentioned that students of color, as well as those who come from impoverished families and communities often receive instructions that are unaligned with their cultural, social, and economic predispositions. Standardized tests disregard the challenges that can affect the academic performance of these subgroups. These challenges include lack of access to health care, financial and food insecurity, exposure to community violence, and exposure to domestic problems, among others.

The review stud of Morgan also mentioned that standardized testing encourages bias in education. For example, some teachers and schools are predisposed to admitting as many wealthy students as possible because they represent a subgroup that collectively scores well in standardized tests. In addition, the same teachers and schools tend to avoid students with special needs or those English-language learners because they tend to perform less in standardized tests. Having a large pool of students who are predisposed to perform well would advanced the self-serving interest of these teachers and schools.

6. Reinforcement of the Capitalist Agenda for Education

The purpose of modern education is to equip students with competencies needed to become productive members of the society. However, critics of the standardization and strict regulation of education, as exemplified by the promotion of common curriculum and standardized testing, have argued that the current education system exhibits an attempt to advance a capitalist agenda . Remember that Davidson described the modern education system as an assembly line of students. Simply put, schools are factories and teachers are workers who work as quickly as possible based on strict production guidelines to produce students that would be used as commodities in the labor market.

In the review study of Rubin and Kazanjan, it was mentioned that there are pedagogy theorists who believe that the capitalist agenda of education is to reinforce and reproduce class inequality by to producing and maintaining a tiered workforce. Education systems that follow standardization consider students as mere commodities. Instead of producing lifelong learners, these systems have the sole purpose of producing test-takers who eventually become non-questioning workers that fit perfectly into the capitalist workforce.

FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES

• Davidson, C. N. 2001. Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn . New York: Viking Press. ISBN: 978-0-67-00-2282-3
• Kuncel, N. R. and Hezlett, S. A. 2007. “Standardized Tests Predicts Graduate Students’ Success.” Science . 315(5815): 1080-1081. DOI: 10.1126/science.1136618
• Morgan, H. 2016. Relying on High-Stakes Standardized Tests to Evaluate Schools and Teachers: A Bad Idea. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues, and Ideas . 25 (1), 97-106. DOI: 10.1080/00098655.2016.1156628
• Phelps, R. 2003. Kill The Messenger: The War on Standardized Testing . New York: Routledge. ISBN: 978-1-41-28-0512-4
• Popham, W. J. 1999. “Why Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Educational Quality.” Education Leadership . 56(6): 8-15
• Rubin, D. I. and Kazanjian, C. J. 2011. Just Another Brick in the Wall: Standardization and the Devaluing of Education. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction . 5 (2), 94-108. DOI: 10.3776/joci.2011.v5n2p94-108

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Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing – Part One

“The purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.”

No Child Left Behind Act

Standardized testing is a staple of American education. With roots dating back to the 19 th century , standardized testing began to be used nationally by the 1980s.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandated annual testing in all 50 states, propelling the use of the tests into overdrive. From elementary school to college and university admission, standardized testing is the “gold standard” for student assessment nationwide. However, it has recently come under serious scrutiny.

Advocates of standardized testing offer convincing arguments. For instance, the tests provide an objective method of evaluating educational progress.

“What better way to prove you’ve learned something than to perform a task based on that learning? That’s the theory behind performance-based assessment, which asks students to … solve a problem or complete a task applying what they’ve learned throughout the school year,” notes Funderstanding , “Fans of this type of assessment say it’s much closer to how students will be assessed in the ‘real world,’ and it’s also a great way to foster a sense of innovation and problem-solving that’s lost in the land of the standardized test.”

Critics of these tests point to numerous objections, such as the unfair advantage standardized tests give to children who are naturally good at taking tests. Students who struggle in this area are at an automatic disadvantage. Additionally, these assessments may not offer a reliable measurement of student progress.

There is no doubt that standardized tests are entrenched in modern American education, with their pros and cons. This article will examine standardized testing as a whole and take a deeper dive into just a few of the many arguments for standardized testing.

Standardized Testing Defined

Standardized testing is a general method of testing students to collect data and evaluate academic advancement. According to The Glossary of Education Reform , “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.”

In general, the term “standardized test” refers to large-scale tests administered within the education system. These tests target large populations of students and often use multiple-choice and true-false formats. Standardized tests are not comprehensive, and they are not designed to be. Instead, they are used to offer insights and data.

Education Post notes , “Standardized tests are a spotlight that helps education leaders see what effect schools are having on students. With that information, they can make changes to address students’ needs. Like any spotlight, state tests cannot shed light on the entire scene, but they can illuminate some of the trouble spots and positive signs along the path to providing a better education.”

Benefits of Standardized Testing

1. it is uniform.

Educational policymakers tout a host of reasons in support of large-scale standardized testing. One pro is that the tests are uniform; all students are given the same opportunity since the tests are the same across the board.

“Standardized tests are carefully constructed tests that have uniformity of procedure in scoring, administering, and interpreting the test results,” states Honest Pros and Cons . “All students are provided with the same tests and scored consistently, in a standard manner, to make it possible to compare the results of individual tests as a performance standard.”

The fact that the tests are standardized for all participating students offers a sense of fairness and accountability.

2. It Allows for Comparisons and Accountability

Since standardized testing is exactly that—standard—it can offer a level of statistical comparison and accountability across districts and regions. Despite any perceived (or actual) shortcomings of the tests, the fact of the matter is that their uniformity provides the same advantages and disadvantages from community to community. This allows for performance and data comparison.

Vittana.org explains , “The information that is provided by a standardized test allows parents to see how their children are performing against national standards through a percentile rating … Every student is evaluated in the same way with these tests, which means there is a guarantee of a specific educational framework in every school.”

Standardized tests offer a baseline of assessment and help to evaluate school standards. ThoughtCo notes that a significant benefit of standardized testing is that educators are held responsible for teaching students the required material . Because test scores become public record, teachers and schools that appear to be failing their students can be examined and held accountable.

Standardized testing can be a helpful tool and has the ability to provide unique data nationwide. When analyzed correctly, this is a definite pro for standardized testing.

3. It Charts Individual Progress

“ Standardized testing can also help standardize individual students’ educations,” suggests Spark Admissions . “In addition to comparing students against one another or identifying problematic schools or districts, standardized tests can also illustrate student progress over time. Taking the same or similar tests over the years can allow students to indicate measurable improvement.”

Standardized testing is conducted fairly frequently for most students. According to a comprehensive study conducted by the Council of the Great City Schools, students took an average of 112 mandatory standardized tests between pre-K and 12th grade. This results in plenty of individualized data to map each student’s progress throughout his or her school experience.

Standardized tests can also be used to evaluate whether or not a student is eligible to advance to the next grade. While it’s fairly common for students to move on to the next grade with their peers, versus being held back, this is a highly debated practice. Teachers and parents can use standardized testing results to help determine whether a child should be held back or not.

VitaEducation notes this as a pro , “State-mandated standardized tests help prevent ‘social promotion,’ the practice of allowing students to advance from grade to grade whether or not they have met the academic standards of their grade level. A Dec. 2004 paper by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research found Florida’s 2002 initiative to end social promotion, holding back students who failed year-end standardized tests, improved those students’ scores by 9% in math and 4% in reading after one year.”

Standardized testing can paint teachers, parents, and the students themselves a valuable and personalized picture of each child’s abilities and knowledge.

4. It Spans Educational Options

Because the tests are nationally uniform, they can span educational options. There are several alternatives to public education. Time4Learning offers a brief look into other educational options , including homeschooling and private schools.

Standardized testing can be a valuable tool for parents, teachers, and students outside of the public school platform. Below is an overview of standardized testing in the homeschool and private school arenas:

Homeschooling

For instance, homeschooled children have the opportunity to test their knowledge and abilities against other students nationwide.

Standardized tests appeal to many home educators who want to help their children stay “up to par” or at an appropriate stage for their grade level. Standardized testing can offer an objective glance at how these children measure up to national averages. Additionally, the tests can provide homeschooling families with a degree of protection and validation for their education choice.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association offers an excellent explanation of the pros and cons of standardized testing for homeschooled students. They note these specific “pros”:

It is the most objective form of academic assessment.

It is well recognized by academic institutions. If your child reenters the traditional school setting after being homeschooled, having some well-recognized test scores may ease the process.

If you need, or want, to know what grade level your child is in based on content knowledge, then these tests can be more helpful than specific-subject placement tests.

Quote taken from “ Intro to Standardized Testing. ”

Private Schooling

Standardized testing in private schools can be a bit of a complex issue. Study.com explains , “The regulations governing private schools vary widely from state to state. Some states, like South Dakota, require private schools to use the same tests that are used in the public system. Others, like Wisconsin, offer the public school tests as an option for private schools. There are also states, like South Carolina, which have no policy in effect at all. Finally, states like California explicitly ban the use of public testing resources by private schools.”

While many private schools do not use standardized testing, some do, either by choice or by law. Generally, private schools do not publish the testing score data, which is one difference between their testing protocol and those of public schools. However, the test results can offer many of the same benefits for private school parents, students, and teachers as they do for public schools.

To summarize, standardized testing allows for evaluation and assessment beyond the conventional classroom. This offers an equal opportunity for all educational backgrounds to enjoy the same testing benefits and data interpretation.

Pros Summarized

Standardized testing is a widely-debated topic, with many angles to consider. This article has examined a number of proclaimed benefits of this method of evaluation:

• It’s uniform
• It allows for comparison and accountability
• It charts individual progress
• It spans educational options

While there are plenty of advocates for standardized testing, many do not hold the same positive views. Stay tuned for the second half of this discussion! Our follow-up article will examine what critics have to say about the cons of standardized testing.

“Standardized tests don’t care if you’re white or black, short or tall, or even the rate at which you learned the course material. At the end of the day, all it cares about is whether you know what you’re supposed to know. It can’t be cheated, bent, or bargained with.”

Steven Crowder

Did you know this is the first part in a series on the pros and cons of testing? Read part 2 here.

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Pros & Cons of Standardized Testing for College Admissions

Debates around standardized testing have been around for as long as standardized test scores have been part of education in the United States. Some argue that students undergo too much testing: by their high schools, by the state, for college admissions, etc. Others argue that standardized tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, are the only fair way to evaluate student achievement.

During the past seventy-five years, arguments about the value of the SAT and the ACT have not eliminated these tests. Yet, these tests have changed. The SAT, for instance, was originally intended to be an IQ test, a perfect encapsulation of a student’s intelligence. Now, college admissions officers know that an SAT score is not a whole picture of a high school student’s abilities. It’s just one piece among many they use to evaluate applicants.

Nevertheless, knowing some of the pros and cons of standardized testing can help you better understand the American education system as a whole and how to approach it.

The Pros of Standardized Testing for College Admissions

Below, you can find some of the major arguments in favor of standardized testing. Schools, colleges, and states that require standardized testing generally believe these to be true, even if they are also aware of some of the downsides to standardized tests (see below).

Standardized Testing Is Fair

This is probably the biggest argument proponents of standardized testing, using the SAT or ACT for college admissions, make: it’s fair. It’s a single test, taken under equal conditions, to measure student achievement fairly. By this logic, standardized test scores from the SAT and ACT are some of the only aspects of a student’s academic performance that aren’t determined by their town or school.

It Creates a Universal Standard for Education

The obvious purpose of standardized testing is to create a standard. Proponents of standardized testing argue that some kind of examination outside of school curricula—which can vary widely by school district—can help an education system better compare students from very different backgrounds because all these students took the exact same test. By measuring students against that universal standard, it becomes easier to evaluate and rank them.

It Holds Teachers and Students Accountable

In the same way that standardized tests provide a standard to measure students, they can also help set larger educational standards for schools across a state or country. Standardized tests make educational initiatives like No Child Left Behind or the Common Core more concrete by checking students’ academic progress. If students in particular school districts are struggling to perform at grade level, superintendents and governments know to get involved.

The SAT and ACT Shows Analytical Progress

Standardized testing can also help standardize individual students’ educations. In addition to comparing students against one another or identifying problematic schools or districts, standardized tests can also illustrate student progress over time. Taking the same or similar tests over the years can allow students to indicate measurable improvement.

It Provides an Inclusive Opportunity

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, can give students from under-performing high schools a chance to prove that they have mastered ample academic material despite their circumstances. Because standardized tests are not tied to any one high school curriculum, they can offer an inclusive opportunity for students to highlight their successful performance. Proponents argue that standardized testing can help level the playing field in public education.

Many Professionals Must Take High-Stakes Standardized Tests

Finally, while much of the arguing around standardized testing is focused on high school students and younger, the fact is that standardized testing is often a fact of life well beyond secondary school. Anyone who wants to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, actuary, architect, or practitioner of another specialized profession will eventually have to excel at a standardized test. Given that, why not become familiar with test-taking in secondary school?

The Cons of Standardized Testing

On the other hand, many people do not consider the SAT and ACT to be valuable or valid assessment tool for evaluating student performance. This is why some school systems are pushing back on things like Common Core state standards and ever more colleges are becoming test-optional . Below you’ll find some of the main arguments against standardized testing.

The SAT and ACT Don’t Measure Intelligence—Only Wealth

While proponents argue that standardized tests provide an objective measure of student achievement, the data is more complicated. In fact, research suggests that the best predictor of success on the SAT is socioeconomic status rather than one’s education or grade level. Opponents of the SAT argue that this inequity arises because wealthy families have the time and money for test preparation resources and services, which essentially means that a good score can be purchased.

It Restricts Teachers’ Effectiveness and Creativity

Another major argument is that an over-reliance on test data to measure student performance negatively impacts teachers’ ability to actually do their jobs. A standardized test at the end of the school year can disrupt a teacher’s curricular plan and force him or her to cover material that might be less relevant to his or her students. Similarly, many teachers find constant testing over the course of the year to be disruptive and unproductive to student learning.

The SAT and ACT Can Negatively Impact Students’ Confidence

Another argument is that standardized testing, such as the SAT and ACT, causes otherwise successful students to lose confidence in themselves and their abilities. Many students suffer from test anxiety, meaning that they do not perform at their usual level because they find the experience of test-taking so stressful. Evaluating a student’s performance only through an impartial test can also negatively affect graduation rates if low scores demoralize students.

The SAT and ACT Unfairly Affect Public School Funding

Because standardized testing data is a matter of public record, it affects funding for public schools. However, many private schools are exempt from state and federal testing requirements, which means that those students are not bound to the same testing cycle. Meanwhile, public schools that face more significant challenges can end up being cut off from the state and federal support they need if their test results are not making the grade.

It’s Unfair to Certain Types of Learners

In addition to being unfair to low-income students, standardized tests often misrepresent the academic abilities of English Language Learner (ELL) students and students with special needs . Although testing accommodations exist, these tests are still designed with a particular student in mind. Opponents of standardized tests argue that anyone who deviates from that ideal, for whatever reason, is automatically at a disadvantage.

The SAT and ACT Don’t Predict Future Success

Ideally, a standardized test would evaluate not just what a student knows already, but also his or her learning potential. After all, colleges that use the SAT and ACT do so because they want to admit students who will succeed on their campuses. But opponents of these tests point to research that suggests that, in fact, the SAT and ACT are poor predictors of student success at the undergraduate level.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, students and families don’t always have much of a say in what standardized tests they do or don’t have to take. That decision is generally up to schools, school districts, college admissions offices, and graduate and professional programs. No matter where you come down on the arguments for and against standardized testing, there’s a good chance you’re going to have to take a few of them over the course of your education.

Nevertheless, being knowledgeable about the subject can make you a more informed and prepared test-taker. Knowing what the goals of these tests are, as well as their potential downsides, will ultimately be an advantage as you navigate the process. If you are wondering how you can start improving your grades and test scores, or if you’re looking for help designing a test strategy for you, reach out to one of our expert admissions consultants here !

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10 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

Basically, standardized testing is a way to determine the academic achievement and potential of students. But when the skills of American students were ranked against others around the world, America didn’t even rank in the top tier.

When George W. Bush was president, he announced his No Child Left Behind program on his third day in office. With the addition of this program, federally mandated tests increased from six to 17.

Bush’s successor, Barack Obama, emphasized during his campaign the absurdity of heavy testing. But when he assumed office, he introduced his own initiative called the Common Core state standards. While there was nothing wrong with the concepts, the system is very flawed. A lot of the tests given are also very challenging but at the same time, they don’t really reflect a student’s ability.

Standardized testing has been implemented for over a decade, but according to studies, the achievement gap still hasn’t narrowed. In fact, students, parents and even teachers are opting out of the Common Core exams. The numbers are continuing to grow, and just recently, Missouri Legislature banned the test.

But why are legislators still pushing for standardized tests despite the protests? And why are parents, teachers and students not interested in taking them? Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing.

1. A practical solution. First off, most of the standardized tests are in multiple choice format. In other words, they are not complicated enough to explain and any student – no matter what level – can understand that they have to tick one of the boxes as their answer.

Also, given that tests are easy to implement, they save a lot of time too. Not a lot of time is wasted on giving explanations for why certain sections should be done like this and so. The instructions are fairly simple: choose the answer to the question based on the suggestions below.

2. Results are quantifiable. When educators are able to quantify the achievement of students, they are able to identify proficiency levels. As such, they can easily identify the students who need remediation or advancement.

However, this is also one of the major complaints about testing: that it truly does not measure the actual skill of a student in a given subject. The outcry over the absurdity of standardized testing warranted it an 18-minute skewering on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. One of the most ludicrous points brought up was the inclusion of a story about a talking pineapple to which children had to answer questions after having gone through the piece.

3. Scoring automation. With so many students at different grade levels taking the exam, it’s difficult for educators to get through them all. Now, that problem has been simplified through computerized testing – and even scoring.

Then again, computer issues – inability to log on and such – have delayed testing in certain schools across America. In fact, it’s become one of the complaints against standardized testing as well. Also, another complaint about the use of computers is the algorithm for evaluating student performance itself: it is just mysterious.

4. Not biased. Since a computer handles the grading and all, there is no possible influence of a teacher on the exams. In the past, a teacher can make up their mind about a student’s skills based solely on their biases towards the child. But with computers, those powers are stripped from them and students can now be judged on what they have put on paper – no external factors involved.

5. Allows for comparison. Educators can compare the results of examinations within the school or even compare it to other schools. Through this, teachers can assess which areas they need to improve on for the students. For example, students from their school may have scored lower in mathematics compared to a rival school. From there, teachers can focus on improving the math curriculum so students will score better next time.

6. Traces student progress. Standardized tests are taken at certain levels, and over that time, educators can see the progress students have made. They either go into decline or improve tremendously. But whichever the case, teachers now have an idea how best they would respond to a child’s education needs.

Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

1. Questions are general in nature. The tests do not really assess skill as the questions have to be generalized for the entire population. In short, the test items are not in conjunction with classroom skills and behavior. What standardized tests do is assess the general knowledge and understanding of students rather than their actual ability.

2. Questions are sometimes ridiculous. Some of the ridiculousness was brought up in John Oliver’s show, and that included questions that were too difficult to comprehend. For instance, a teacher took the exam (not the exact one but something that was close to a legal standardized exam) and the test graded him as a poor reader. What’s worse, the teacher had a Master’s degree.

A fifth-grade teacher in New York also highlighted just how difficult some of the questions are. For example, only six students out of 17 finished an ELA test but the ones who didn’t finish were those the teacher considered avid readers. The teacher declared that “There was just far too much material on the test for them to get through and comprehend.” And also added, “The test isn’t designed for them to pass.”

3. Results doesn’t allow educators to update their instruction methods. The questions on the test are general in nature, and it’s hard for teachers to know how to improve students’ understanding of a particular topic based on general information alone. What this does though is allowing teachers to “teach to the test” rather than educate students properly based on the needs of the classroom.

4. Scores are influenced by external factors like fatigue. Students study hard for these exams. They study so hard that there are even instructions on what teachers should do if a student vomits on their test booklets. Students feel pressured taking these exams and sometimes their final scores are reflective not of their ability but of being influenced by other factors instead.

Pros and Cons Of Standardized Testing In Education

• May 1, 2023

We live in an era of increasing academic competition, where standardized tests are unavoidable in the educational landscape. Standardized testing is an important part of any educational system, but it’s not without its critics.  Here, we’ll take a look at education and standardized testing, alternatives to standardized, the pros and cons of standardized testing, and how students, parents, and educators can prepare for the tests.

What Is Standardized Testing?

Standardized testing in education is a method of rating student performance. This is done by giving tests that are designed to measure specific abilities and skills. The tests are usually multiple-choice, and scores are compared to a set baseline or norm.

Standardized testing is used to compare students against each other, as well as against a “standard” or “norm”.  These tests measure a variety of skills, including reading comprehension, math proficiency, and writing ability. They are also used to assess college readiness and to evaluate the academic progress of students.  

Standardized tests are often given to observe the performance of students from different schools, districts, and states. Such tests also serve as assessment tools for the effectiveness of educators and schools. For example, the federal government uses standardized testing to assess the performance of individual schools and districts. This data is then used to develop policies and funding decisions.

Examples of Standardized Tests

The earliest records of standardized tests can be traced to 7th Century Imperial China, where government job applicants were given examinations testing their knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry.

In modern times, there are several types of standardized tests, including the SAT, IELTS , ACT, TOEFL , GMAT, and LSAT.

To maintain established standards, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) compares the academic performance of students across the United States using various standardized tests. The PSAT, AP, and CLEP tests are used to measure college-level knowledge.

The SAT and ACT are widely used to measure college readiness. The SAT examines writing, reading, and math skills, while the ACT assesses English, math, reading, and science.

The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT and is commonly used to prepare students for the SAT. The AP tests assess college-level knowledge and are used to determine college credit for high school coursework.

Meanwhile, the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT provide assessments for graduate school readiness. The GRE checks verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills, while the GMAT rates verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills in preparation for business school.  

The LSAT allows for admission to law school.

Do Standardized Tests Improve Education?

Standardized tests have become a crucial part of the international education system. Because these popular tests are approved yardsticks to measure academic performance and admissions, the tests also influence the curriculum and teaching methods.

Contrary to popular belief, standardized tests are not required to improve education because they don’t measure education quality. Over time, standardized testing has led students to focus on rote memorization and test-taking skills, rather than building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Standardized tests also focus on teaching to the test, which can limit the curriculum.

Also, high-stakes tests are becoming more prevalent, with students, educators, and schools being held accountable for their performance. In turn, this has increased emphasis on test preparation and test scores, rather than on learning and understanding.

Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

Pros of standardized testing.

Standardized testing has many pros. The most obvious being to provide a general assessment of student performance. Additionally, standardized tests are necessary to compare students’ performance from different schools, states, and countries. The tests also assess higher education readiness.

The tests inform educators, parents, and administrators about the academic progress of students. They are also a measure of the effectiveness of educators and schools.

These tests are generally useful for educational institution admissions, as they can provide a uniform measure of student performance.

Cons of Standardized Testing

These tests have cons, mainly because they are seen as a measure of intelligence, rather than knowledge and understanding. This can lead to a focus on test scores, rather than on learning.

Such tests are also a major source of stress for students because they can be difficult, and the pressure to perform well can be overwhelming.

Standardized tests are criticized as unfair, as students from different backgrounds may not have access to the same resources or preparation.

Another con is that the tests can be costly, and the expenses of test preparation is restrictive for some families. Plus, the tests are time-consuming, as students must spend a significant amount of time preparing for the tests.

Alternatives to Standardized Testing

One alternative to standardized testing is performance-based assessments, which checks student learning and understanding through projects, presentations, and problem-solving activities. This type of assessment can be more effective at measuring student knowledge and understanding.  

Another alternative is portfolio-based assessment, which is a more comprehensive assessment of student performance and progress. This type of assessment can be used to measure progress over time, rather than just a single test score.

Preparing Students for Standardized Tests

Preparing for standardized tests can be a daunting task. But, there are a few strategies that can help students prepare for the tests.

1. Familiarize Yourself With the Test Format

Students need to be familiar with the types of questions that will be asked and the different types of passages they will be asked to read. They should also become familiar with the timing of the test and the types of strategies that can be used to answer the questions.

2. Develop a Plan for Test Preparation

Students should set aside time to practice the tests and should identify any areas of weakness that need to be addressed.

3. Practice Test-Taking Strategies

This includes time management , reading comprehension strategies, and effective guessing strategies.

Preparing Parents and Educators for Standardized Testing

Parents and educators play an important role in preparing students for standardized tests.

Parents can help by providing a supportive environment, encouraging their children to practice the tests, and helping them develop test-taking strategies.

Educators can help by providing practice tests and test-taking strategies, and by helping students identify any areas of weakness that need to be addressed. They can also help by providing a positive environment in which students can practice the tests.

Standardized tests are an important part of the educational system, hence it is important to note their pros and cons. The tests can provide an objective measure of student performance, but they can also lead to a narrowed curriculum and increase emphasis on test preparation.

There are pros and cons to standardized testing, and it is important to consider both sides of the issue before making a decision. Ultimately, it is up to parents, educators, and students to decide whether standardized tests are the right choice for their educational goals.

If you’re looking for help with standardized testing, be sure to sign up to EDU Passport , our education hub provides support, resources, and a community for educators. With the right resources, you can ensure that your students are well-prepared to ace every test.

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Home » Pros and Cons » 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

18 Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

A standardized test is a testing format which requires all test takers to either answer the same questions or to answer from questions that are selected from the same bank of questions, in the same way. Those answers must then be scored consistently, in a standard manner, to make it possible to compare the results of individual tests as a performance standard.

Standardized testing can be applied to virtually any type of test or assessment. The term is often reserved for large-scale tests that are administered to students in the public-school districts throughout the United States. These tests are often required to be taken in specific grade levels, such as 3rd grade and 8th grade, to evaluate the progress of all students.

Tests like these have been administered in the U.S. for more than a century. Virtually every American who has attended a public or private school has taken at least one standardized test at some point during their lifetime.

Here are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing that we have discovered thus far.

List of the Advantages of Standardized Testing

1. it is a way to teach learning prioritization..

Most standardized tests are created to evaluate the information individual students have retained in core competency areas of learning. Although many students tend to find classes like art, music, and physical education to be the most enjoyable at school, there is also a need for reading, writing, and arithmetic. These tests help students understand that some subjects are just as critical to being successful in life as the subjects that they enjoy the most. In return, students get a chance to show how much they have learned.

2. It is a way to bring out the best in teachers.

Far too many school districts have based raises and promotions for teachers based on how their students perform on standardized tests. That has led to the bad habit of teachers simply teaching to the materials that are expected to be covered by the test. The best teachers do not focus on repetition. They focus on making the learning process fun. By switching from lecture-based repetition to real skill usage, information retention rates for students can rise by more than 85%.

3. It creates a positive school environment for students.

There is no doubt that test-taking days for students are stressful. The results that a standardized test provides will also create a school environment that is filled with positive energy. Even if a student scores in a lower percentile on the test compared to their peers, the fact that they could take the test in the first place creates a self-esteem boost. Students who do their best on a test, regardless of score, often have more confidence as well. The test shows students that their hard work, learning new core concepts, has paid off.

4. It can identify learning deficiencies or disabilities that students hide.

There are certain learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, which can be easy for teachers to spot. There are also certain subject-based deficiencies or hidden disabilities that affect student learning that teachers cannot easily identify. The standardized test can find these issues, however, to show teachers where learning gaps may be for certain students. In return, students can then be placed into individualized programs to correct the deficiency or create accommodations for the disability to facilitate better overall learning.

5. It creates an environment of equality.

Students might come from a variety of socioeconomic circumstances within the same school district. When they are all taking the same standardized test, the students are placed on an equal footing. Every student is given the same opportunity to show off what they have learned over the past school year. Instead of separating students into certain groups, each student is fully evaluated on their own merits by this type of test.

6. It is a testing process that can be administered quickly.

Standardized tests are usually completed within a required grade over a period of 5 learning days. Advanced forms of standardized testing, such as the ACT, are administered on a single day. That means a comprehensive look at how a student learns, and how much information they have retained, becomes available to teachers and parents from a minimal time investment.

7. It is an affordable assessment tool.

According to information published by The Huffington Post, the total cost of standardized testing in the United States public school districts is about $1.7 billion. That figure was determined by the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. Although that figure seems like a lot of money, it represents just 1% of the overall education budget for educational systems in the United States each year.

8. It does offer some alternatives for certain students.

Standardized testing does offer an alternate version of a test to accommodate some students. That allows students, even if they have a disability, to have a chance at experiencing the equality that comes from everyone taking the same test.

List of the Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

1. it promises big results that do not usually happen..

Standardized testing took a higher priority in U.S. education circles in 2002, when the “No Child Left Behind” educational emphasis was enacted. In just 7 years, the United States dropped 13 spots in the world education rankings. In 2002, the U.S. mathematics was ranked 18th in the world. In 2009, the U.S. was ranked 31st. All core subjects have followed the same pattern of reduced effectiveness as standardized testing took on a more prominent role in U.S. educational circles.

2. It can be very expensive for some states.

Standardized testing is an assessment tool that is reasonably affordable for most geographic locations. New York State, for example, spends just $7 per student on standardized tests. Oregon spends $13 per student, while Georgia spends $14 per student. For some states, however, the tests can be quite costly. Hawaii spends more than $100 per student for standardized testing. It is $114 per student in the District of Columbia. Delaware spends $73 per student, while Massachusetts spends $64 per student.

3. It is not always a true reflection of a student’s knowledge.

Some students are incredible learners. When it comes time to take a test, however, these hardworking students are under-represented by the results generated by the standardized tests. There are several reasons for this. Some students could be dealing with working memory issues. Others may have a slower processing speed when dealing with specific types of information. Because accommodations are rare for a standardized test, some very bright students may be placed into remedial learning programs because they have poor test-taking skills.

4. It assumes all students come from a similar learning background.

Standardized testing works on one core principle: that all students have received the same quality of core educational principles throughout their life. Although it does create a system of equality that stretches across all socioeconomic spectrums, it still creates a system of discrimination as well. Students who may struggle to understand English, have undiagnosed hearing or eyesight concerns, or be unfamiliar with computer technologies may all have their scores be lower than they should be.

5. It is a test that evaluates only one component of the learning process.

Core competencies are important to learn. Measuring them through standardized testing allows teachers, parents, and administrators to understand where each child is at on their own learning path. These tests also struggle to account for other types of learning that make be a strength for certain children. Some children may be profoundly talented in art or music. Others may have a high emotional IQ. Students may be very resourceful or possess desirable vocational traits. Standardized testing only looks at one are of learning competency instead of all of them.

6. It may not be a reflection of a student’s true potential.

One of the primary reasons the U.S. has experienced a drop in global education rankings is likely due to the fact that the tests, not subject learning, have become a priority for school districts. Teachers earn raises because of test scores. School districts received state and federal grants from test scores. In a way, standardized testing as monetized the educational systems of the world at the expense of what students learn. Instead of teaching useful information, teachers teach to the test instead. It is an evaluation not of quality. It is a judgment on information quantity.

7. It is a system that can be gamed.

Some students can instinctively sense patterns within the answers of standardized tests. Although this issue only applies to multiple-choice answer tests, it can still be a problem. The Brookings Institution found that 4 out of every 5 students who experience testing score improvements have experienced little-to-no change with how they actually learn. Those who create tests put in unintended patterns that some students are able to identify. If these patterns are not removed, then high test scores can be achieved with a minimal effort to learn the materials being covered by the test.

8. It creates a narrower curriculum that may limit student learning.

Because so much funding is tied into the results from standardized testing, school districts across the United States have shifted their class schedules to accommodate teaching in testing areas. From 2002-2009, as part of the “No Child Left Behind” initiative, the amount of time spent on science, social studies, music, and art dropped by more than 40%. The average student saw over 2 hours of their week shift from these subjects to reading and mathematics. When we create a narrow curriculum for our students, we lessen their chances for success. Some students are natural readers. Others are natural artists. Our school districts should accommodate both types of learning.

9. It changes school schedules.

Many school districts in the U.S. altered their calendars to accommodate the need for better test taking. Some districts initiated voluntary learning sessions on weekends, holidays, and scheduled school vacation days to encourage better test-taking by students. That reduces the amount of time students have for extra-curricular activities, including some that may be school related.

10. It encourages cheating.

According to The Washington Post, more than a dozen different school districts throughout the country have been caught trying to cheat on test scores. Scandals that have involved several teachers and administrators, notably in Atlanta, GA, have tarnished the learning process for students. It has even caused good teachers to leave their profession because they want to teach a subject instead of teaching a test.

These advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing show us that there is a need to compare student performance. We can find learning gaps, identify specific needs, and create a healthier learning environment for students with these tests. If we are not careful, however, we can also destroy all the self-worth a student achieves during the year through one poor test result.

For that reason, standardized testing should offer more accommodations to students. Each of us has a method of learning that is a little different than anyone else. By working to accommodate those differences, a more accurate evaluation of what students know can be achieved.

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Harvard Is Bringing Back Standardized Tests. Other Schools Should, Too.

Emi nietfeld didn’t have access to lacrosse or advanced placement classes, but she did have standardized tests..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions. [MUSIC PLAYING]

My name is Emi Nietfeld, and I am a journalist and the author of Acceptance, a memoir. For the last 15 years of my life, I have thought back to studying for standardized tests with this warm affection. I think that it’s important that standardized tests remain an option for students to submit, because it is one path to college when some of the other paths fail.

The Ivy League universities — they are now changing their tune on standardized testing.

During the pandemic, many colleges dropped the requirement to submit SAT or ACT scores. Then Dartmouth required standardized tests following an analysis that they did that showed that the same students coming from a lower income background who were supposed to benefit from test optional policies were actually being harmed by it.

Harvard University is planning to reinstate standardized test scores for admissions requirements, and it follows some of its peers after a pause caused by the pandemic.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

When I saw the news, I was pretty surprised at first. Because I feel like the zeitgeist has been so anti-standardized tests. For example, students generally do not like taking them, parents complain about how stressful they are, and there are concerns about equity and whether these tests are really fair to students who are coming from different backgrounds, especially because a high score is associated with wealth and with racial privilege.

At the same time, I really liked these tests as a college applicant. I did not have access to a consistent school life, to teachers who could recommend me to extracurriculars that were going to impress colleges. So, really, the one thing that I did have was these standardized tests. And because of that, they were my hope for the future.

When I was nine years old, my parents separated, and that triggered pretty severe mental health issues for both of them. And it also meant that I went into therapy. And pretty quickly, I was diagnosed, I was medicated, and my life fell apart.

I had been a straight-A student. But, suddenly, I was switching between schools, in between these treatment programs. And when I was 14, I was sent to a locked facility, where we didn’t go to school, except for the classroom that was staffed by the Special Education Department.

And every afternoon, we had hours and hours of quiet time where we just had to sit alone in our rooms unless we had earned the privilege to go outside. And on one of those afternoons, I was still stuck in my room. I hadn’t been outside in weeks. And the staff went on an outing to the library.

And so I asked them, hey, could you get me a standardized test prep book? And I was so shocked when they came back, and somebody was like, here, and handed me Barron’s guide to the ACT. I just felt like this beam of light was shining down from heaven on me because, finally, I had something to do. I had a way to pass all that time. And I didn’t have to just feel like, oh, I’m stuck here, falling behind, while all these other people who are richer, and healthier, and get to live in the real world, are taking advanced placement classes and playing field hockey.

For me, and for a lot of people who are in difficult situations, having this objective score to show colleges is something that is available to us. You look at the other parts of the college application like the essay, or teacher recommendations, or even GPA. And all of that stuff is also shaped by what kind of background you’re coming from. And I did not have control over where I went to school or if I could finish out the year at a certain school, but I did have control over being able to study for and take this test.

When I was writing my personal statement, I felt like I would have to show my trauma in order to get in. I worked on drafts of my application while I was sleeping in the back seat of my rusty Toyota Corolla. I was brainstorming it from a homeless shelter, and it was just this incredible emotional weight to have to make myself so vulnerable for colleges. And at least when I was studying for standardized tests, I was able to focus on academics, and I was able to imagine myself as a scholar instead of another vulnerable teenager.

Part of why I really wanted to attend an elite university was that they offered really incredible financial aid, and that was what I got when I went to Harvard. I don’t think standardized tests should be the only metric that colleges use to evaluate applicants — not at all. But I do think that it can be a really important objective metric that can compare different students from different contexts against each other, and I would hate to see that disappear.

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By Emi Nietfeld

Produced by Kristina Samulewski

Harvard University is among the latest institutions to announce it is reversing its test-optional policy and requiring students to submit test scores in their applications. For the writer Emi Nietfeld, it’s a positive sign. Growing up homeless and in the foster care system, she didn’t have a lot of control over her education or resources that would bolster her college applications. But one thing she did have control over was studying for standardized tests. In this audio essay, Nietfeld explains how Scantron sheets helped her unlock a better life.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available on Monday in the audio player above.)

This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Kristina Samulewski. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. Mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Isaac Jones and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .