Assessing Standardized Tests in the United States - 977 Words

Imagine a test capable of making or breaking a students chances of getting into his or her dream college. Imagine a test score that can be easily influenced, but only through thousands of dollars worth of coaching. Now imagine that same test but biased towards certain crowds of students while also being incapable of accurately predicting their futures. Is this the test you want for colleges to use in order to distinguish students? This is the SAT—famous for the unnecessary pressure it presents to students as well as the unfair disadvantages it presents to many others. Since these SAT scores are extremely artificial, SAT tests are not an accurate predictor for future success. SAT scores are inconsistent since they are directly correlated with average family income. Studies show that the average SAT score for students (out of 2400) in families earning up to $20,000 is 1326, whereas students in families earning over $200,000 receive an average score of 1714. This discrepancy is likely caused by unequal test preparation. Those with an average income of less than $20,000 tend to be families that cannot afford proper coaching, but those earning over $200,000 can afford as much coaching as they want. In other words, wealthier students are able to surpass the poorer students through â€Å"gaming the system†Ã¢â‚¬â€bringing their score up hundreds of points through hundreds of dollars worth of private college counseling as well as through hefty amounts of practice tests. This also means that ifShow MoreRelatedThe Efficiency Of Standardized Testing1544 Words   |  7 PagesEfficiency of Standardized Testing Diane Ravitch once said, â€Å"Sometimes, the most brilliant and intelligent minds do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds.† A standardized test is a test that is scored in a â€Å"standard† or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students. Standardized testing is a trend that has grown significantly over the last decade. These tests were intended to assessing children’sRead MoreStandardized Testing For Students Knowledge Of Materials And General Intelligence1598 Words   |  7 Pagesstatewide testing programs were becoming very common. Since then, the U.S. has been using standardized testing to assess students’ knowledge of materials and general intelligence (Alcocer). Standardized tests do not accurately assess students’ knowledge or academic potential. Many educational professionals feel that without standardized testing there would be no consistency in measuring student achievement and assessing the efficiency of teachers. Some say that by taking the SAT or ACT, students are ableRead MoreEssay about Meanings of Intelligence and Adaptive Behavior1355 Words   |  6 Pagesexpected to participate in standardized testing, however as late, everyone in public schools is expected to participate in standardized assessments. Some educators are happy with the change while others are concerned the assessments are not an accurate assessment of what students actually know. For many students with learning disabilities, standardized assessments often don’t accurately indicate what the student truly knows and where they have deficits. One problem with assessing students with ID is theRead MoreStandardized Testing Is A Common Routine Part Of Their School Year1202 Words   |  5 PagesAngela Li Ms. Weichert English 9H G3 17 November 2016 [INSERT TITLE HERE] For students of all ages across the United States, standardized testing has become a common routine part of their school year. Many laws have been passed over the years, requiring countless standardized tests throughout a student’s educational career for every student.This educational norm has been implemented for the past eighty years for the purpose of allowing comparisons to be made among schools in regards to student achievementRead MoreThe Importance Of Standardized Testing In Education1140 Words   |  5 PagesThe standardized test has become the staple of the United States K12 education system. Students at all levels are routinely tested, and schools evaluated based on the scores. It’s easy to look at this as a necessary part of the system, a needed way of assessing both school and individual student performance to ensure quality across all schools. These tests are regarded as a tried-and true way of doing this, when in reality they are neither old nor accurate in assessment. I move in this essay thatRead MoreThe Unfairness Of Standardized Tests Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe Unfairness of Standardized Tests The practice of standardized testing is one that is ancient, dating back to the practice of making government prospects to take examinations to test their knowledge in Confucian philosophy and poetry (Fletcher 2009). The idea of using standardized testing in colleges admissions came first from the introduction of the SAT in 1926, followed by The ACT created in 1959. Growing in popularity, both tests became accepted at many different universities across the nationRead MoreSchool As A Context For Development956 Words   |  4 Pagesp.437). In the United States many children don’t receive an excellent education due to living in neighborhoods that are economically poor, typically where many minority children grow up. Children usually learn through social enhancement, imitation and explicit instruction that are provided in their culture from their families. The children who come from low-income backgrounds are found to do poorly in subjects, as well as standardize testing. Some t houghts are whether standardized testing discriminatesRead MoreEssay On Bilingual Children1663 Words   |  7 PagesAssessing bilingual children has regularly been established as a struggle for Speech Language Pathologists. An SLP must consider multiple factors prior to making a diagnosis of a speech or language disorder in bilingual children. One approach to assessment is not superior to another rather it vital that clinicians use the results from multiple formal and informal assessments, combined with personal judgments to make a proper diagnosis. Many formal assessments are normed; however, comparing bilingualRead More The Debate Over Standardized Testing Essay1287 Words   |  6 Pagesstudents sit perched over their desks in the process of taking standardized tests. As the students take the tests, teachers pace nervously up and down the rows of their classroom, hoping and praying that their students can recall the information which they have presented. Some children sit relaxe d at their desks, calmly filling in the bubbles and answering essay questions. These children are well prepared and equipped to handle their tests. Other children, however, sit hunched over their desks, ponderingRead MoreStandardized Assessment Is The Only Instrument For Measuring Student Learning Outcomes1465 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing has been used in the American higher education platforms to assess student achievement at individual,classroom,instructor,school,region, district,state and national levels.The results obtained from standardized tests have provided all parties with information regarding the direction of education and provide catalysts for improvement.Arguments concerning the merits of standardized assessments as a measure of college and university effectiveness have been around since time immemorial