Negative Consequences Of Standardized Testing

It has also come to light that standardized test results are often inaccurate. As Michelle Obama once said, Mrs. Obama is living proof that standardized tests are not an accurate form of measurement for student’s intelligence and performance. Even though Mrs. Obama did not do well on standardized tests, she is one of the most intelligent and powerful women today. It takes a lot more than a high score on a multiple choice test to determine the level of one's intelligence. A students performance on a standardized test can also be negatively affected for several reasons including; lack of special needs accommodations, stress, and weak language skills. The tests are very discriminating against non-English speakers. Because all students in a class take
the same exam, a recent immigrant or an exchange student that is very intelligent with good grades might not do all that well on the test due to a lack of English skills. This reflects in their test scores thus portraying them as below average which could impact their future education. Special needs students are not treated fairly either. While they may get more time allowed on the exam, the questions remain the same. Mental disabilities often lead to students that cannot understand questions based on the way that the questions are presented. This is why tests made for average students do not accurately show the intelligence level of special needs students. In summary, teachers and students are spending way too much time planning, preparing and taking standardized tests which has resulted in a lot of negative consequences including wasted time, stress and the suppression of creative learning.
In addition, it has been proven that the results of these tests often fall short in producing the data they were designed to provide to educational policymakers. It has become clear that the NCLB policy has fallen way short of its goals and was put into effect without a proper public debate. This brings up an interesting point. How did something that has been met with so much criticism in our local schools get passed in the first place? Clearly, education policymakers should have thought twice about linking federal funding to standardized test scores. At the time, it may have been seen as an easy and simple way to qualify federal funds for education but as we have learned, there have a been a lot of negative consequences. With so many students, teachers and parents so focused on test results, students are not learning nearly as much as they could be which not only could negatively impact their future success but could also negatively impact the future success of our
country.