Why Is Standardized Testing Unnecessary

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a standardized test is defined as "a test, administered according to standardized procedures, that assesses a student's aptitude by comparison with a standard". These supposedly identical testing procedures are meant to ensure the reliability of the results, so they can be used to further students’ education. However, evidence suggests that standardized testing isn’t benefiting schools and students as it was intended to. Overall, standardized testing is unnecessary because it negatively affects students by inadequately preparing them for further education, burdening them with additional stress in high school, and the tests are generally a waste of money and resources.

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While teachers usually offer office hours outside of class for students to get extra help, some students simply do not have time for this. Most students have commitments outside of the classroom, such as extra-curricular activities, sports, and even after-school jobs. Being involved in these activities is a way for students to enhance their college applications, but it also makes finding time for studies more difficult. Some might argue that these activities should come after education, but to many students these activities are equally as important to their future as their grades. There are also the students that see their teachers for extra help, but still have difficulty grasping a subject. These students have the option to seek extra help from a tutor, but because of the cost of private tutors, many students cannot afford this. When the time to take the test comes, these students usually find that they are at a disadvantage. Additionally, because the structure of standardized tests are so unpredictable, it makes it difficult for students to prepare for them on their own. While this is not the teacher’s fault, this will also reflect badly on them. After all, standardized tests are used to evaluate what a student has learned in the

Take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for example. This is a test that most students take at least once during their high school career, and their performance on it can greatly influence their future. High scores can mean scholarships, acceptance to their college of choice, and much more. Low scores can have the opposite effect. The weight that this test holds makes many students nervous, and this creates its own problems. Anxiety can make students unfocused, which can lead to incorrect answers and a low score. This shows that while a student may have a low score, it does not necessarily mean that they did not know the material, but were merely unable to handle the anxiety induced by the exam. This could also mean that the test does not assess the student’s full knowledge of the