Why Do Standardized Tests Can Improve Success?

Standardized tests are the types of examinations that require the test takers to answer the same questions which include the same instructions, format, and scoring scale that can determine their education power relatively to each other. Some people believe that these exams are important for testing the knowledge of students before entering college. In fact, these people claim that because they believe it can measure college success. As a matter of fact, having high school grades and high test marks can help predict success in college. Standardized tests can determine students’ performance because they are objective, fair, and comprehensive. In fact, according to Donald R. McAdams, who is the executive director of the Houston-based Center for
In fact, according to Herbert J. Walberg, who is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in his book (Tests, Testing, and Genuine School Reform). Richard Phelps, who is a testing scholar, compiled more than two hundred polls about standardized tests which showed that the public strongly agrees with these tests. In fact, these respondents believe that these tests measure educational achievements and make sure that high school graduates acquire the necessary knowledge for their further education (Walberg, 2011, p.13). Standardized tests should be applied to all high schools because it can measure the skills a student has and decide if he/she has the ability to have advanced education in his/her future. Furthermore, according to Walberg, “The tests are graded by educators other than the students' own teachers, and students have little incentive to challenge their teachers about course content and standards. Rather, the students and teachers work together toward their joint goal of meeting standards, and often the stakes are high: graduation and university admission.” (Walberg, 2015, p.3) Since standardized tests cover a wide range of topics such as humanities, sciences, and other fields, it will make teachers focus on teaching different kinds of materials. In
Thus, it results in making teachers change their style of teaching, focusing on delivering the meaning of the concept and its application in the real world. In fact, according to Tankersley, “before we can design any instruction, we must first determine what gaps lie between the skills they bring and the skills they are expected to master” (Tankersley, 2007, p.22 & p.23) This proves how standardized tests aid students in recognizing the skills that they can excel in. Thus, teachers will have a clear idea of what material they should teach students in order to have an advanced understanding of those topics. Moreover, according to Sarah E. Holmes in her article (Standardized Testing and the No Child Left Behind Act: A Failing Attempt at Reform) which won 2009 W. Keats Sparrow Writing Award , “One major advantage of value-added assessment is that it is entirely student specific meaning that teachers know the strengths and weaknesses of each student and can respond to those needs rather than trying to change their entire curriculum just to boost test scores” (Holmes, 2009, p.14) This confirms standardized tests’ ability to assist teachers in knowing the weak points that their students face. This way, they will be able to determine better methods of teaching the curriculum to their students in order to ensure better performances in