Should High School Students Pass Standardized Testing?

Across the United States there is a boundless debate on whether high school seniors should be required to pass standardized testing in order to earn a high school diploma and move on to higher education. There is no shortage of problems that arise with standardized testing. Lack of funding and resources cannot provide students with all of the help they need to pass these tests. Most teachers also have a strong opinion on the subject. Some teachers feel pressure to “teach the test”. Standardized tests also do not teach students skills that can be applied in the modern workplace. By not placing so much pressure on passing standardized tests students will focus more in the class room while also preparing them for college.Standardized tests are
not an accurate measurement of any student’s intelligence. You can ask any teacher of any grade and they will be able to tell you if a student can read, write, and solve math problems. They will also tell you that the results on these tests do not reflect the students’ knowledge and should not be a factor in deciding if they will graduate from high school or not. The no child left behind act passed in 2002, mandates that students be tested, but does not require these tests to be used as a graduation requirement.
After No Child Left act the US slipped from 18th in world in math to 31st in 2009, with the same decline in science. The National Research Council reports found no evidence that these test­based incentive programs are working: "Despite using those for several decades, policymakers and educators do not yet know how to use test­based incentives to consistently generate positive effects on achievement and to improve education." (Pro con). For instance a student’s standardized test score does not average into the overall grade that the student has earned in the class room all year. However if a student does not meet the requirements for the test the student will not be allowed to graduate high school until they pass the test no matter what grade they earned in the actual class. (Mccorry). These test also do not test knowledge that is applicable in the modern workplace (Mccorry). Many teachers stance on this issue is that if standardized testing was taken away they would be able to teach more openly and not just solely “teach the test” therefore creating a better learning
experience. Standardized tests are also being used as a barometer used to access how well teachers are teaching the material and what they need to improve upon (Ward). Without the pressure of standardized testing over the student’s shoulders they are more likely to pay closer attention in class and be more overall interested. There also is the issue of students are learning simply just how to pass tests instead of actually learning and retaining knowledge. By not placing so much pressure on testing and instead focusing on education students will develop critical thinking skills that will be useful if they do move on to higher education (ward). If students are more prepared going into college this will significantly reduce the number of college freshman that drop out of fail their first year of school. There is so much pressure to perform on this test that many student have test anxiety. Every student learns differently and one test cannot measure the intelligence of every student. In some schools standardized tests come with instruction for the teacher giving the test on what to do if a student’s vomits on their test booklet. Those students who do experience test anxiety do poorlyWithout the pressure of standardized testing over the student’s shoulders they are more likely to pay closer attention in class and be more overall interested. There also is the issue of students are learning simply just how to pass tests instead of actually learning and retaining knowledge. By not placing so much pressure on testing and instead focusing on education students will develop critical thinking skills that will be useful if they do move on to higher education (ward). If students are more prepared going into college this will significantly reduce the number of college freshman that drop out of fail their first year of school. There is so much pressure to perform on this test that many student have test anxiety. Every student learns differently and one test cannot measure the intelligence of every student. In some schools standardized tests come with instruction for the teacher giving the test on what to do if a student’s vomits on their test booklet. Those students who do experience test anxiety do poorlyWithout the pressure of standardized testing over the student’s shoulders they are more likely to pay closer attention in class and be more overall interested. There also is the issue of students are learning simply just how to pass tests instead of actually learning and retaining knowledge. By not placing so much pressure on testing and instead focusing on education students will develop critical thinking skills that will be useful if they do move on to higher education (ward). If students are more prepared going into college this will significantly reduce the number of college freshman that drop out of fail their first year of school. There is so much pressure to perform on this test that many student have test anxiety. Every student learns differently and one test cannot measure the intelligence of every student. In some schools standardized tests come with instruction for the teacher giving the test on what to do if a student’s vomits on their test booklet. Those students who do experience test anxiety do poorly on standardized tests but excel in all other areas of school. This is why standardized testing is not an accurate measure of a student’s intelligence.Funding is one of the foremost issues with standardized testing. Many states are underfunded and cannot provide the proper resources for students to be able to adequately prepare them for the standardized tests (Jouriles). The costs associated with these test are just too high and the results to low. In many cases states and school districts have different budgets pertaining to how much extra help the students will receive therefore not every student is getting a fair chance. Standardized testing does the most damage to low income schools (Jouriles). Also when a school district has lower tests scores the government cuts their funding so they have even less resources to help students prepare. Researchers have estimated that American taxpayers are s p e n d i n g a s m u c h a s $ 2 0 b i l l i o n a n n u a l l y i n d i r e c t p a y m e n t s t o t e s t i n g c o m p a n i e s a n d i n i n d i r e c t expenditures of time and resources devoted to taking and preparing for standardized tests. (Carter). The argument can be made that because of lack of funding and resources available students should not be required to pass these standardized tests to graduate high school. Standardized testing should not be used as a requirement to graduate high school. While these tests are meant to evaluate a student’s knowledge and prepare them for college they fall short in many areas. Standardized test cannot accurately measure a student intelligence. Standardized test do not even factor into a student’s overall grade for the year. Funding is so short in some schools that not every student is receiving the proper resources to help them prepare to take standardized tests. Standardized testing also does not prepare students for the modern workplace. Without the pressure of these tests students are also more probable to pay closer attention in class and become more interested in what they are learning. Students are alsomore likely to succeed in college. Standardized testing cannot measure a student’s creativity, curiosity, motivation, leadership skill, and so many other things. With all the problems that arise with standardized testing they should not be used as a requirement to graduate from high school.