Should Standardized Testing Should Not Be The Standard?

Standardized Testing Should Not Be The Standard Standardized testing can be deemed as unfair and should not be solely used to judge a student’s academic performance. Once quoted, “If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that” (Obama). Standardized testing has been the go-to way to test a student’s intellectual ability since before World War II. Most tests consist of several hours filled with tedious multiple choice questions and in-depth essays. When spring comes around, most students dread school because they are forced to take the lengthy state required exams. Unfortunately, the scores of just one test could potentially determine a child’s entire academic future. The
State or standardized tests can be considered to be unfair and discriminating. Students who do not speak English as their first language are at a huge disadvantage (“Don’t Believe the Hype”). Students considered to be in a special education course are also required to take the same test as everyone else. A student who does not speak English well or has a learning disability should not be forced to sit for hours taking a test in which they are not or cannot be properly prepared for. This type of student should be focused on more of a smaller learning goal that would benefit them. It is a shame that one test can make up a student's whole school curriculum for the year. Classifying students into two categories causes a student to have low self esteem (“Do Standardized Testing Accurately Show Students Abilities”). For some standardized test, schools make it a requirement that the child has to pass the test in order to graduate (“Standardized Testing”). A student, such as one who is mentally disabled or from another country, has more setbacks to take the test , and should not be under that much pressure. With schools having children who struggle to take standardized tests raises the “the dropout rate, repeating a grade or completing school with something other than a full-fledged high school diploma, such as a certificate of completion.” (“Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing”). Schools should be more concerned about finding better ways to educate their disabled students with better teachers and equipment, rather than enforcing the student take a test that they are not prepared for. Standardized tests often discriminate against students who have different needs than the typical high school