Cultural Biases In Standardized Testing

Is Cultural Biases in Standardized Tests Affecting a Student’s Success?
Imagine if one’s success is dependent on one item, where this one item may not be providing an equal chance for success, because of differences in culture. For parents and students of different cultural backgrounds around the United States, this is becoming a reality. Standardized testing can have a substantial impact on a student’s future, and the idea that these types of tests are culturally biased is rising. While some Caucasian Americans and minorities (Hispanic Americans, and African American) believe that standardized testing allows Caucasian Americans a better probability of success because some content is geared towards Caucasian culture, making the test culturally
These Caucasians believe that these tests were built off of equality, not biases. Such as Gilman Whiting and Donna Ford said, “ It is also important to note that test construction is grounded in the assumption of homogeneity and equal opportunity to learn and acquire knowledge and experiences … everyone has had an equal opportunity to learn and be exposed to the tasks in the test and its format (Ford, 2004)” (Ford and Whiting 3). In this case, Caucasians believe that standardized tests were made in a way that would provide all students, of all different kinds, to have an equal chance of success. In terms of supporting that there is no more cultural biases in tests, Ford states, “ Many test developers have gone to great length to decrease or eliminate (if this is possible) culturally biased (or culturally-loaded) test items (Johnsen, 2004). Accordingly some scholars contend that test bias no longer exists” (Ford 1). However, to refute this claim, there are modern test developers, College Board, who still have had studies proving that their test, the SAT, is still culturally biased. “The average test scores of black students trail those of white students not just because of economic disadvantages, but because some parts of the test result in differential scores by race for students of equal academic prowess” ( Jaschik 1). The study was able to prove that certain questions give Caucasian advantages by analyzing the result of the previous SAT tests. This is able to show that even today, cultural biases are present. By using this research, it can be seen that it contradicts the opposition's side of biases being eliminated and that there is a cultural biases against minorities in standardized