Arguments Against Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is used in most schools. These are tests that are designed in a way, which are given out and recorded in a consistent method. In standardized testing, all test takers are required to answer the same set of inquiries. These are exams that usually have multiple-choice, or true or false questions, and test takers are given a certain amount of time to answer all the problems. Standardized testing is usually used to compare the performance of individuals in a relative manner. Many people consider standardized testing as an objective way of grading a student, since computerized scoring removes any kind of bias and subjective assessments. Millions are spent on these tests every year, since these need to be taken, in order to be
Students only prepare for these exams when the date of examination is drawing near. According to one source, "Standardized testing impedes the assessment of a very important skill. For the most part, standardized tests hinder any sort of creative and out-of-the-box thinking, which is a skill needed in college and in the workplace." This just shows that standardized testing is undependable since it creates an atmosphere of dullness, because students already know what to expect on the standardized exams. This also promotes a way of thinking that there are only two choices to every problem, which is either right or wrong, and this does not apply in real-life circumstances. Also, this displays that standardized testing only calculates the performance of a student during that day, and not the complete development during the course of the
After taking standardized exams, scores are published and the different schools are ranked from the highest to lowest. Because of standardized testing, educators end up "teaching to the test" due to fear of losing their jobs. According to another source, it is unfair for schools to be compared because the test-takers are different sets of people, which cause a biased manipulation of statistics. With this, educators neglect to teach students skills that go beyond the classroom, since they are too busy preparing their students for these standardized tests. They use their time teaching the topics that will be shown in the tests, that they forget to teach students life lessons that go beyond the classroom walls. Another reason why standardized tests pressures mentor, is because the test results are used to evaluate their effectiveness as an educator, which should not be the case. This is because standardized testing may be biased against certain groups or individuals. According to the studies of Harvard University graduate and independent researcher, Harold Berlak, standardized testing bring up racism, which contributes to the achievement gap between the minorities and the whites. Stereotypes that African Americans usually perform badly in standardized exams hamper their testing abilities. With this, research also shows that minorities statistically receive lower scores compared to the whites, since