Does Standardized Testing Work Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Does Standardized Testing Work - Research Paper ExampleDifferent studies have revealed that order tests be bias in nature as they are favorable for assimilators coming from affluent family background. A standardized test is called standardized because it is assumed that it treats every student equally and gives everyone an equal opportunity to do headspring in the tests. The foundation of the standardized tests is the fair and equal opportunity to everyone. However, with bias in its design, the foundation of standardized test has proved to be extremely weak and hence, the standardized test fails to work. The nature of standardized tests The intention of standardized tests is to measure the learning curve and the donnish progress of students. A test is called standardized when it is designed with a standard format and is conducted to a lower place standard conditions (FairTest, 2007, para.2). Hence, students giving standardized tests have to give tests under same test conditions , with same questions and same scoring way (FairTest, 2007, para.2). This assures uniformity and objectivity in testing. Moreover, standardized tests have become a decisive ingredient in the process of getting admissions in schools and colleges and hence, have become extremely signifi trampt in the life of a student (and parents) (FairTest, 2007, para.2). It will not be wrong to say that standardized test is a matter of life and death as far as the discipline and professional prospects of students are concerned. Hence, it is graphic for educators and parents to expect that standardized test is designed in such a way that it measures the natural potential of a student and not the superficial clevernesss, which can be improved with the aid of resources available outside the school. However, it has been found that standardized test inclines in favor of students coming from affluent and advantageous family backgrounds and hence, proves fatal to the education system of the country (F airTest, 2007, para.5). Education has a potential to offer unconditional love, understanding, appreciation and unbiased treatment to children. Right education has the power to shape the afterlife of the world by producing intelligent, mature and confident human beings. However, it has been found that the quality of the education is declining due to the effort in winning the race of scoring well in standardized tests (Kohn, 2000, para.14). It has been observed that instead of measuring the natural skills standardized genuine understanding and intelligence, the standardized test measures the temporary skills of acquisition of facts, copying the answers and skill of test-taking itself (Kohn, 2000, para.14). Hence, what the tests measure is nothing but superficial skill set which does not contribute in improving the quality of learning and education in any(prenominal) way. Unfortunately, this fact also applies to the tests like SAT, MAT, CAT, CTBS and ITBS. The measurement criteria P eople have given importance to tests because they think that tests measure the quality of learning, teaching, intelligence and thinking ability. However, it has been found that non-referenced tests like SAT, MAT, CAT, ITBS and CTBS were designed to give ranking to the students and not to measure the quali