Why Standardized Tests Are Ineffective at Measuring a Student’s Capabilities

A Test Destined For Failure In America, standardized testing has become a prevalent method for testing the educational ability of students. Tests such as the SAT for College and the California STAR for elementary and junior high students have been administered since the beginning of the 20th century. These tests are often considered by many as crucial for the academic progression of students into further education, such as an elementary student being promoted from third to fourth grade or a high school senior applying to college. However, standardized tests have setbacks which could jeopardize a student’s future academic progression given he/she fails to pass. Therefore, I believe standardized tests are ineffective at measuring a student’s capabilities and hence interfere with true academic learning. Standardized tests assess the capability of the student to react to the test in an appropriate manner. It does not factor in true knowledge retention, the key element to a successful academic exam. Students who are faced with any form of disadvantage are most drastically affected by the consequences of standardized testing. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) calls these tests â€Å"very inaccurate and encourage the use of overly academic, developmentally inappropriate primary schooling. † â€Å"Inappropriate schooling† is described as â€Å"schooling not appropriate to the child's emotional, social or intellectual development and to the variation in children's development. † Students who are incapable of possessing necessary test-taking skills such as focusing for long durations, budgeting time, etc†¦ fail these tests while their true knowledge of the material may prove otherwise. Students who rely on rote memorization and superficial knowledge pass the test when in fact they should not. Standardized tests are commonly and widely criticized for their bias towards children of â€Å"privileged background[s]† who more likely than others possess â€Å"a set of knowledge and skills† that result in higher scores. Alfie Kohn, an author on education writes â€Å"affluent families, schools, and districts are better able to afford [test preparation materials], and the most effective versions of such [materials]. It is fair to say then, that those receiving a poorer quality education will be at a significant disadvantage compared to those who can or already received quality instruction and education related to the test. Charles Murray, a former Harvard graduate writes in his article â€Å"Abolish the SAT† for the journal The American,† The SAT test isn't the problem. The children of the well educated and affluent get most of the top scores bec ause they constitute most of the smartest kids. They are smart not because their parents are well educated, but because their parents are smart. † Murray summarizes his whole point with a bold claim, â€Å"if you’re rich, you can buy your kids a high SAT score. † Although the topic of standardized testing is widely debated and argued, the notion of such an important test with many innate flaws existing in the education system is shocking and appalling to many. Standardized tests were created to assess a student’s true academic potential. However, the variables and factors that influence these tests cause standardized testing throughout the world to be ineffective at that task. Works Cited FairTest. â€Å"How Standardized Testing Damages Education. † FairTest. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, 20 Aug. 2007. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. . Kohn, Alfie. â€Å"Standardized Testing and Its Victims. † Education Week. Alfie Kohn, 27 Sept. 2000. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. . Murray, Charles. â€Å"Abolish the SAT. † The American. The Journal of the American Enterprise Institute, July 2007. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. .