The Problems with Standardized Tests | Teen Ink

The Problems with Standardized Tests

May 31, 2022
By dkrishna BRONZE, Parsippany, New Jersey
dkrishna BRONZE, Parsippany, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

 Imagine you are the smartest kid in your class. You have the grades. You have the potential. You even have the athleticism. Now, all you need to do is to take your SATs. However, your head starts pounding and your throat starts stinging. You can hardly focus on your test. Time is ticking, and you have barely anything done. You didn't finish, and now your chances of a good college are down the gutter. This sadly happens to many students across the globe, but this would never have happened if standardized tests did not exist. Currently, standardized tests are ruining the potential of students worldwide just because they did not do well on one test. This shows that standardized tests should be abolished because it shows a bias toward some and a single exam can not show how intelligent a person is.

The first reason standardized tests should be abolished is that they show a bias towards those with economical advantages. For example, according to the article, “It’s Time to Abolish Standardized Tests,” families that earn more than $200,000 a year averaged 1714 out of 1800 on the SAT. While families with an income of under $20,000 a year averaged 1326 out of 1800. This was before it switched to having a maximum score of 1600 (Jagiah2). This shows that standardized tests should be abolished because they give an unfair advantage to the rich as they can pay for a tutor for their children. Another example of how it shows a bias to some is that if kids have parents with a graduate degree, they average about 300 points higher on their SATs, compared to students with parents who only have a high school degree(Jagiah). As a result, standardized tests should be abolished because it favors students that have parents with graduate degrees and this is unfair as children can not choose their parents. The last reason why it shows a bias towards some is that you can take the test multiple times. While some families can afford to take the test multiple times, normally most can not. Some studies have shown that students that make more income normally score higher than those that do not make as much income. This shows that standardized tests should be abolished because it discriminates towards those that can take the test as much as they want as the evidence clearly shows.

The second reason why standardized tests should be abolished is that one test can not show how smart someone is. One example of this is from the article “It’s Time to Abolish Standardized Tests,” which states that Frederick Kelly, the man who invented multiple-choice tests, later stated his beliefs were too crude to be used and should be abandoned(Jagiah 1). Thus, standardized tests should be abolished because the creator who made multiple choice question tests, which is what most standardized tests use now, says that standardized tests are outdated and should be negated, but sadly for the past century it has been the primary tool that most states and universities see to judge schools and students. Another example of how standardized tests can not show how smart someone is can be found in “Few Know Parents Can Opt Out of State Tests.” There it states kids who do well in class can still not go to the next grade if they don’t do well on the state tests. This proves that standardized tests should be abolished because students shouldn’t be measured on how much they have learned and progressed during the year based on just one standardized test. The final reason for how one test can’t show how smart someone is from, “Few Know Parents Can Opt Out of State Tests.” There it states that high school seniors who pass all of their classes but who do not pass the state tests can be held back from graduating. This clearly shows that standardized tests should be abolished as they are arbitrary because multiple seniors that would get into college easily do not because since they were held back colleges wouldn't want them. This is why standardized tests should be abolished because one test can not show how smart someone is.

 

Thus, all of the evidence above concludes that standardized tests should be abolished. Opponents on the side that standardized tests should stay normally say that they chart progress and identify children's strengths and weaknesses. This is not true as report cards and GPAs already do that and parents can also talk to the teacher to make a plan so their children become better at the subject which makes it better than standardized testing. Now with all of the people advocating for standardized tests to be abolished, hopefully, our attempts will not be futile and the government will listen to us and efface standardized tests worldwide.


The author's comments:

I made this for my English class and I hope you enjoy it.


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This article has 2 comments.


on Jun. 8 2022 at 12:35 pm
aarav0116 BRONZE, Morrisplains, New Jersey
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Cool!!

SaroshP BRONZE said...
on Jun. 7 2022 at 5:19 pm
SaroshP BRONZE, Morris Plains, New Jersey
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Great article