Argumentative Essay On Standardized Testing

Brendan HewerMs. JefferyWriting Composition 12112 September 2015Standardized Testing prevents higher order thinking Have you ever wondered why we have standardized testing? Many people over the course of the years wonder why we still use standardized testing as a basis for what college we get into or what we will accomplish in our lives. Many people also question what is the real educational value of standardized testing? Some would argue that standardized testing has no real value at all and actually hurts kids because it doesn’t make them use higher order thinking which is a vital skill to have in today’s job market. I believe Standardized testing effects students’ potential learning abilities and limits there higher order thinking Many professionals
According to the ACTs class of 2013 survey there are 1,799,243 students that the act each year. The ACT is one of the biggest tests of a high school student’s career, it determines directly what colleges we attend and get accepted into. If a student does poorly on this test, their low scores could cause them to not have a chance at any high paying job in the future, which ultimately effects them there entire life. The present use of this test taking reflects the argument that people who tend to test well will excel, and people who usually test poorly will suffer and eventually fail. Instead of standardized testing they should use a testing system that implements higher order thinking.Another reason I think we should get rid of standardized testing is because it makes kids feel bad about themselves. To further the discussion about higher order thinking Kearns states, “The majority of youth interviewed were surprised and even shocked to find out that they were not up to government standard of literacy”(Kearns 118
Throughout the article, Kearns states many times how he strongly disagrees with standardized testing and thinks that schools should get rid of it entirely, agreeing with Smith and also myself. I also believe that students don’t feel good after. I have had several times where I didn’t feel very well after taking the standardized tests. If the system switched to the route of the higher order thinking tests, not only would students’ grades and long-term memory boost, but also their self-confidence and vital higher order thinking skills. Finally many people say we should keep standardized test but I and many others disagree with that. In the article, “American History’s Problem with Standardized Testing” it 0states that history is why we have standardized testing. According to McCoog, “The major problem facing history teachers is relating the material to a students’ modern life” (McCoog 1). History itself has shown us that some things are meant to be changed and not repeated. One of these things that should be changed and not repeated is standardized testing, but McCoog offers a counter argument and describes why they shouldn’t be