Worthless Testing

Worthless Tests Studies have shown that before taking a test, 18 out of 38 fourth graders rated test anxiety levels in the high range.” Liza Frenette stated. That is outrageous! Students shouldn't have to feel this way before taking any test. But do these standardized tests even help our students improve their academic career? Standardized tests are not needed in education. To start off, a standardized test seems like it would help students grow in their educational career and help them prosper. When a student takes a test or a standardized test, they spend so much time and effort into their work to get good grades. The material that they are taught will stick with them and help them with the rest of the school year, but there is
no evidence showing this. “Test-based incentives have not consistently generated positive effects on student achievement,” says National Research Council. Why are we making our students take so much time to prepare for a single test if they don’t even help them. Furthermore, standardized tests are one way students are measured in their academic abilities.
Basically, if students perform poorly on these tests, they will get extra help with their struggles. The only flaw with this system is standardized tests are a unrealiable measure of student performance. A 2001 study published by Brookings Institution found that “50% to 80% of year-over-year test score improvements were only temporary and they had nothing to do with long-term changes in learning.” these tests are not teaching more material and content to students, all of it just goes over their
head. Another example, standardized tests only measure a small amount of what make educational meaningful. These tests cannot measure “creativity, critical thinking, endurance, resourcefulness, etc.” according to General W. Bracey. In these tests, students are judged on their academic abilities. How are they supposed to show their true capabilities if the test can’t even measure it correctly? How can they show people how good of a student they are if their tests scores don’t show it themselves? These children are unable to really show what they are capable of doing. Some people may think that standardized tests are good for children. That these tests help the students with their education and that they don’t affect them mentally or physically. This claim is wrong because these test are actually putting pressure and stress on students. When students get too much pressure put on them, they will fall apart. “Tests cause anxiety in even the brightest students, and makes young children vomit, cry, or even both.” says Gregory J. Cizek. The parents that refuse to admit that these standardized tests are not worth the trauma are too stubborn to see the real picture. Another claim against this position is that teachers approve the standardized tests.
Then everyone comes to think that if the teacher giving the test approves it, that they should as well. The only problem is that this is wrong, most teachers dislike these tests. On every standardized test, teachers are evaluated on how well the students do on the test. So if students do poorly, the teachers are assessed badly which could potentially cause them to lose their job. To point out, more than 1,400 New York principals signed a letter to the state education commissioner that said the tests are deeply flawed. If the principals and teachers of a school disapprove of these tests, why do we as a nation keep using
them. In every student's educational career they have taken many standardized tests. Probably too many to count. But not many people realize that these tests are worthless. “Standardized tests exist for administrative, political, and financial purposes, not for educational ones.” according to Thomas Armstrong. That just goes to show how ineffective they are. To help with this issue, write a letter the the U.S. Department of Education or your state’s education board petitioning standardized test.