Importance of Good Test Scores
Schools play a huge role when it comes to good test scores. The support and motivation schools provide to students would be reflected positively on exams. Tests in schools help maintain a higher level of responsibility from teachers and students because they understand their effort on having good test scores would benefit them. Daniela Silva an author from NBCNEWS cites an article from education experts, “The standardization of the educational curriculum, may also help ensure quality education for all students”. Schools motivate students by offering physical activities like gym which helps with concentration. With the idea that this will improve learning, and as a result good test scores will follow. Based on research done by BMC Public Health, “A systematic review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests an association between school-time physical activity and improved academic performance and standardized test scores, and concentration as well as better attention on classroom”. Having a well preparation in school leads to high quality preparation in higher education for students. College careers turn to be easier when students have taken previous exams that make topics familiar for when they start college.
High Education
Higher education can be awarded with merit scholarships, which are given out of standardized test scores.This is a great advantage for those that really put the effort to earn good scores. From these tests you can also have better preparation for what will approach in college. The next piece of evidence is taken from a U.S. News article by Sonya Ellis, “One of the best known score-dependent scholarships is the National Merit Scholarship is awarded to high school students based on their PSAT, NMSQT score”. The College Board says, “The SAT Suite of Assessments connects students to programs that recognize academic excellence and award college scholarships.
On the other hand, standardized tests have negative support; it can be seen as a way of businesses to take money from students. Since it is necessary for every student and school to pay with some exceptions. A big question is asked why are not standardized tests free if it’s only purpose is help educators and students. Broussard Meredith an expert in the topic expands more, “Across the nation standardized tests come from one of three companies CTB MCGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin, Hartcourt, or Pearson. These corporations write the tests, grade the tests, and publish the books that students use to prepare for the tests, Houghton Mifflin has 38 percent market share, according to its press materials. In 2013, the company brought in $1.38 billion in revenue”. A small group of companies run all the power and control.
Value of Standartised Testing
Socioeconomic status plays a huge role when it comes to student academic development. The economic status and the place in which someone lives influence highly in previous knowledge that is needed to succeed in education. Low income students suffer the consequences. In this article is explained, “Amid this tension, many students are not being well-served in particular those who live in poverty and/or lack the language skills necessary to succeed in school and in society”. It can also result as a disadvantage the understanding low income students have over topics. As Bownwyn T. Williams says, “It is working class and poor students, for whom pleasure and construction of literate identities is deemed unimportant, who will encounter a curriculum driven by the fear of standardized testing”. However all students are administered the same testing assessment. This could actually help those in a socio-economic disadvantage by producing the same tests. The College Board , “Increased access to millions in combined annual awards for low-income and minority students through partnerships with scholarship providers, complementing our work with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to remove barriers to college and career success for students across the country”. Aaron S. Benjamin and Hal Pashler from the article The Value of Standardized Testing say, “Tests produce direct educational benefits for students…and help promote wider recognition of the role of tests as potent instructional interventions”. Meaning that the producers of these exams take in account all the factors that can hurt the students and make them equal and accessible for everyone.
It is proven that these tests are the most effective way to measure knowledge, ability and intellectual capacity of a student. Standardized tests have been around for decades, dating back to the 1950s. The importance of them is not only for one child, it is for all the children around the country. It gives the government a wide overview of young citizens’ education is progressing. Rick Stiggins, founder of the Educational Testing Service’s Assessment Training Institute goes further in an 2008 article from www.thejournal.com, and Education and Technology news site, by stating that standardized tests are now used to measure, “compare and rank schools, districts, states and now nations” making standardized testing a global assessment. In conclusion, standardized tests are useful and necessary for the sustainability of education in all the aspects. It is proven that these tests are the most effective way to measure knowledge, ability and intellectual capacity of a student. These tests are design for the success and equal opportunities for everyone that takes them.
