Student's Performance On A Standardized Test example essay topic

Standardized testing is a serious issue to all students in schools today. Standardized testing is taken more serious than ever. Standardized tests may affect what classes a child is placed in during grade school or whether someone gets into college. Standardized tests even affect a school in many ways. Albert Einstein once said, "Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts". Standardized testing has an effect on underprivileged kids, on schools, and on students applying for college.

In elementary and middle school, students take various standardized tests that may affect their future school career. Students who take standardized test in elementary grades are not mature enough to know what the tests are being used for. Some students may go through the test and mark random answers, because the students think the teacher is not grading the test, so it will not affect them. For students who actually try on the test and score low this may hurt him or her in the future.

These students may be well-rounded students that make A's and B's, but standardized test scores may hold them back from opportunities in life. Students who take standardized test in middle school, start to realize the importance of the test more than before. The factor of good students with bad test taking skills still comes into play. Good students may not get the same advantages as other students who scored high on the tests. The low test scores will also set a standard for the student, because one may think that he or she is placed in the right classes when in reality he or she has the grades to contend with students who scored high on the tests. Furthermore, schools have to worry about scores of the students so that they may receive a good report from the state.

States are collectively spending more than $400 million in 2001 to test students (Students Against Testing). If a school receives an excellent report, then the school will be given a sum of money and new school supplies for the students. Some schools may not be able to contend with other schools in their district because one school may be funded more than another may. Money is the biggest issue in schools. If a school is well funded, then the school will have better teachers, better programs, and better facilities for a student to learn. The government should spend more money on the schools that score low, therefore that next time the school is tested the school will get a better report.

' "If they get low scores, the kids are punished, because the school doesn't get money. And they are using test scores to make decisions about promotion. They are telling kids 'You are dumb,' " states Gabriel Model of Parents for Unity. Many high school students anticipate attending college after high school. Many face the problem of low scores on the SAT or ACT. Colleges rely too much on standardized test scores to realize what a great student some people really are.

Taking the SAT or ACT is one of the most stressful tests a high school student will ever have to take. The nine out of ten states with the highest drop out rates used standardized tests in decisions about graduation (Students Against Testing). Students must worry if his or her scores are high enough to get into the college of his or her choice. Students that make lower than he or she hoped, have the chance to take the test over again. The next time is different, because one has to worry what happens if they still does not meet their goal. If the student's scores are still poor then he or she may change his or her life goal that he or she has been planning for so long.

This is all because he or she did not have the test scores to go to that certain college. Standardized testing is most stressful for high school students. There is too emphasis on standardized testing in today's society. Some people may say standardized tests are essential for certain reasons and some may disagree.

Standardized testing should help students, instead of punishing them for low scores. Standardized test should help low scoring schools by funding the schools with money and supplies to raise the scores. Colleges should look at the overall performance of the student and not dwell on the student's performance on a standardized test such as the SAT or the ACT. Standardized tests should not add stress to a student or cause a student to miss out on an opportunity he or she deserves..