Persuasive Essay Against Standardized Testing

1904 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Standardized testing impact on schools

Your hand quivers as you fill in the ‘c’ bubble. You hesitate, realizing there’s no way they would have put so many ‘c’s in a row. An anxious shudder thunders across your skin, leaving yet another trail of goosebumps in its wake. The next three questions seem to be of an entirely different language and you eventually fill them in with a random assortment of ‘a’s and ‘b’s. This trend continues throughout the morning as you answer endless questions about genetic variations and the application of trigonometric ratios. By the time you are dismissed, you are a nervous wreck. Lunch passes in a daze, your mind locked on the rest of the tests you have ahead of you for the afternoon. The situation just described may take you back to memories …show more content…

Yes, the days of naps and snack time were quite delightful, so long as it wasn’t the season of standardized testing. Standardized testing has been enforced largely by the No Child Left Behind Foundation, something …show more content…

When you need to know something, you must take the knowledge out of your own experience, not guess it from a short list of options. Standardized tests teach conformity by engraining in students mind that the options are limited and the answers are simple. By encouraging this simplistic mindset, we are destroying the creativity that would have been providing the ideas that will change the world. One day, students are going to go through their own crucibles, ones we can never predict, and it will be their creativity that gets them through it. Standardized tests can not be allowed to diminish this creativity. One of the most personal effects of Standardized testing is that of the stress it causes students. No matter what background, students have felt the pressure that standardized tests are enforcing. All of us have had bad days, been sick, or simply didn’t get enough sleep and something as simple as that can be a hinderance for a student to move on to the next grade level. Getting held back a grade can throw a student off for years to come. Both by losing friends and making the student feel like a failure. These are valid concerns that must be addressed by those that continue pushing for standardized

Show More
Related

  • The Negative Effects Of Standardized Testing

    1149 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Fyona Rose, “Not only do these tests belittle students' and teachers' hard work, they also leave them with negative feelings toward school and drain their love of learning” (Rose, 2015). This means that standardized testing can ruin the enjoyment of learning for both students and teachers. The reason standardized testing still happens is because it has become a standard for schools each year. But if the standard is bad something should be changed. Many who do not like standardized testing to do not believe that testing should be done away with, but rather be changed to accommodate the growing needs of society as a

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    Standardized tests have historically been used as measures of how students are compared with one another or how much of a particular curriculum they have learned throughout the semester or year. Consequently, standardized tests are being used to make major decisions about students, such as grade promotion or high school graduation, and higher education evaluation. Various numbers of students across America have had to repeat classes because of the way standardized tests are used to pass or fail students. Although the tests require students to retain information until the end of the semester, I believe it is wrong to allow just a single test to decide whether an entire semester’s work will be rewarded with the credits that may have been well-earned. Some standardized testing such as the SAT, are not fair to students who may come from a poor educational background and do not retain information as their fellow peers. Students are at a disadvantage if they have test taking anxiety, which is a condition that many students suffer from “a feeling someone might have in a situation where performance really counts or when the pressure's on to do well” (Test Anxiety). Standardized tests give a false pretense of objectivity and consequently of equal opportunity. However, "the only goal of standardized tests is the scoring, which is done by machine" (Facts on Standardized Tests and Assessment Alternatives). It is made clear that the purpose of testing is to provide information to be used in conjunction with, not in pl...

    Read More

  • What Are The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although there have been legitimate arguments supporting the benefits of standardized testing, such as their ability to successfully measure students’ proficiency, in recent years there have been concerns and disadvantages regarding how their misuse poses a serious threat to the American education system. Despite the belief that standardized tests should be used to measure students’ proficiency, there are more reasons outweighing this statement regarding why they shouldn’t be used for this purpose. Not only is this a particular issue with standardized testing, but the tests are becoming more high stakes and are being used unfairly to determine things such as graduation, or placement in a school, resulting in a significant amount of stress and anxiety in students. Testing corporations are also profiting from the design of these standardized tests, while standardized testing is also forcing teachers to all teach the same thing, leading to a lack of creativity in the students. Aside from these arguments, standardized tests have been found to be becoming flawed and have poor design.

    Read More

  • Standardized Testing Informative Essay

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Students are taking between ten and twenty standardized tests, depending on the grade. A total average of one hundred thirteen different ones by graduation.”(Locker) A few years ago the United States, along with other nations, was given a test to assess the academic strengths and weaknesses of each nation and rank them accordingly. When the results were released and the United States was ranked near the bottom, it was decided to start incorporating more testing through school. Between benchmark, TLI, PARCC, and common core standards, teaching technique was forced to change. Standardized testing has had a negative effect on teachers and students, implementing inadequate grading standards and the common core curriculum, such testing has made

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: The Causes And Cons Of Standardized Testing

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    His hands are shaking, his palms are sweaty, he is afraid his heart is about to beat out of his chest. The rectangular thing is placed in front of him. A bead of sweat drips from his forehead. he wipes it away. Soon after that he faints. This is all because of a simple rectangular piece of paper that has the words standardized test written on it in big, bold, black letters. These are just some of the signs of test anxiety, all so teachers, schools, and students can be compared to one another. Standardized testing is wrong and uneducational. Some would ask why this is erroneous, when the schools get money if the students do well on these tests. This is amiss because of three simple reasons. One, standardized testing does not work. Two, standardized tests only measure a small portion of why makes education meaningful. Finally three, standardized testing causes severe stress in younger students.

    Read More

  • Dehumanization Of Standardized Testing

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since elementary school, students have been sharpening their No. 2 pencils, preparing to fill in the bubbles on their standardized tests. To younger children, these tests aren’t a very big deal. But little do they know that the tests they take in elementary school are practice for the biggest test they will take in their lives. This test is the ACT, or the SAT. These tests are a huge deal. Students’ results on these tests could change their plans for the future, and that’s a lot of pressure. So are these tests really all that they are made out to be? Are they really that important enough to stress about so much? Many people have started to say that standardized tests are hurting American schools, and that they put too much pressure on students.

    Read More

  • Essay About Depression

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    It seems obvious that no student particularly likes any sort of test, but the question is whether or not standardized tests are doing more harm than good. The concern of many educators and parents is that these tests are diminishing any sense of creativity a student may have. Eric Sheninger states his concern,”…we inch closer to an educational system that focuses on test scores as the number one determinant of achievement.” (Sheninger). He has a very valid point. Once you limit a person’s sense of achievement to the score they get on a test, you are risking their entire self worth. Maybe a student is not very good at biology, but they have a very creative eye. What does a standardized test have to show that? Our entire education system now is made up of scientists and mathematicians who have to see numbers and measure things for them to exist. You cannot measure or grade creativity so of course standardized tests do not see these things as necessary, but does this mean they are not important? In 2014 the Fort Lee Board of Education in New Jersey decided nearly unanimously to get rid of some art and home economics classes throughout the high schools and middle schools. These classes consisted of woodworking, power mechanics, dance, foods, interior, fashion and graphic design and auto maintenance. In place of all these classes, the board decided to put in STEM, this stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Students are required to take two of these classes to graduate (Shkolnikova). The board had to get rid of things that “weren’t a necessity”, but shouldn’t each student individually decide what is a necessity depending on their career

    Read More

  • Conformity Vs Individuality

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    Standardized testing is something all students fear no matter what grade they are in. Whether they are in elementary school and middle school and have to fear the ELAs or Regents exams, or in high school and fear the SATs, PASTs, APs, ACTs etc. Even with standardized testing being as feared as they are students are still being conformed to take them. There are many ways students are being confirmed to take them, one being that they are impulsed. It 's either a student takes the standardized test or fears that 's they will be left behind. For instance, some colleges will not even accept students if they have no taken SATs. This helps prove the point that each adolescent is taking some sort of standardized test, even if they do not want to. Also, they begin to conform students to take standardized testing as early as kindergraden. Thinking on kindergraden many think about coloring, reading on the big red carpet with the teacher as well as just having fun being a kid. But now even kindergraderners are feeling the wrath of conformity down their necks because of standardized testing. With prep books to help them prepare for the standardized testing they are unable to go outside and play and just be kids because they are inside studying for an exam. (book cover) Furthermore with standardized testing there is also an upwards trend of students being

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Standardized Testing

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Garcia-Pelayo2students, one can find oneself surprised when we learn that each state spends roughly “$1.7billion a year” (Ujifusa 1) on standardized testing. Money for standardized testing if being spentbefore students even set their eyes on a college application, and definitely before they start fillingout their applications. Standardized tests are expensive, and usually required too. Unless astudent knows for sure that the school they’re applying to, and getting accepted to, does notrequire standardized tests, spending those $65 dollars is almost inevitable. What most studentsconsider “back-up schools” might not need high grades, but at the very least they need thesatisfaction of knowing that you took a test and that they have a number by

    Read More

  • Against Standardized Testing Essay

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    Standardized testing is not the best way to measure how well a teacher teaches or how much a student has learned. Schools throughout the United States put their main focus on standardized tests; these examinations put too much pressure on the teachers and students and cause traumatizing events. Standardized testing puts strain on teachers and students causing unhealthy occurrences, Common Core is thrown at teachers with no teaching on how to teach the new way which dampers testing scores for all students, and the American College Test determines whether a child gets into college or not based on what they have learned during high school. Standardized tests are disagreeable; tests should not determine ranking of people.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My Experience With Standardized Testing

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout my educational career, I remember taking standardized exams since I was in second grade. My experience with the standardized test was never a pleasant one. At a certain point, I thought that it would hinder me from going on to the next grade, graduating high school and going to a college of my choice. I always felt that standardized test did not measure my actual intelligence and was frustrated with the concept that comparing students to others, by giving all students a basic multiple choice test, is enough to measure how well each child would do throughout the school. After I had started understanding the ranking system, I started doubting my ability to keep up with my peers, not just in my school but the state. The first exam that

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

    666 Words  | 2 Pages

    Standardized testing is a down fall to many students but also an opportunity for many others. Standardized testing has its pros and its cons. It can be the make it or break it factor into getting into colleges you are hoping to attend or the scholarships you want to earn. Some people may have their opinions about the test, whether they hate it or not but the fact is that it’s here to stay.

    Read More

  • Standardized Testing is NOT Effective

    2388 Words  | 5 Pages

    Morse, Jodie. "Is That Your Final Answer?.” Educational Tests and their Measurements. June 2000. Web. 30 June 2015.

    Read More

  • Standardized Testing Argument Essay

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    It’s an age-old question. Do standardized tests really show what students know? Some may think they are a great way to measure education and others may think that one test does not justify a child’s knowledge. What is this test exactly? A standardized test is any test that requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same way. They are used to “judge” or “measure” the knowledge or skills that students learn in school. The problem with these standardized tests is that they measure all students on the same material, leaving out special skills the student may have. It also puts a great deal of stress on a student to know that they will be timed on these questions that

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Standardized Testing

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    “If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that.” This quote by Michelle Obama illustrates the idea that standardized testing should not have such a large influence on education in America. However, a majority of people are under the impression that standardized tests are an accurate method to measure a person's intellectual ability. I believe that standardized tests have developed into a very critical part of the American education system; that is hindering the growth of students and teachers instead of providing a tool that can accurately measure knowledge.

    Read More

More about Persuasive Essay Against Standardized Testing

Open Document