Essays

English-Standardized tests

Practice Argumentative essay 7th grade on Standardized tests

Grade:C+

I am not a good student to have in English... I have poor writing skills.

Students pushing themselves to the breaking point. Stressing over upcoming tests. "Standardized testing causes severe stress in younger students" [procon.org]. Standardized testing is bad for students because stress can take a toll on mental ability and in turn lowering their scores on tests. The school should stop standardized tests and find a different way of measuring performance.

Another reason why standardized testing is bad for education is standardized testing only focuses on one point of the subject and has no real world problems. This is narrowing the curriculum. Studies show that because of standarized testing "school districts have reduced the time spent on Science, Social studies and Arts"[procon.org]. This shows that because standardized testing only focuses on the minimum. This that because of standardized testing deprives students of extra curricular activities students creative thinking level goes down.

Perhaps the most unique evidence is in 2002 the sacramento bee re-ported that test -related jitters especially among young students are so common that the stanford-9 exam comes with instructions on what to do if a student voments on the test booklet [procon.org]. This is disturbing students they are so stressed out that they get sick. This is not good for our next generation.

Another problem with standardized testing is that while excessive testing may teach students to be good at testing it does not prepare students for a productive adult life.[percon.org] School districts are teaching the test only focusing on what you need to know for the test. The US school districts require standardized testing. When each state has developed different NCLB standards and assessments,providing no basis for comparison. Standardized testing is robbing children of their childhood . Schools districts start NCLB testing in the third grade. But schools start testing students as early as Pre K. [procon.org The schools are having four and five year olds tested.

In contrast others will argue that standardized testing is improving education. Their argument is that china's tradition of standardized testing hs them leading the world in educational achievement. However, the the students go to school a lot longer and have considerably different teaching styles. Standardized testing seems to be focusing on the important skills that students need to pass the test. So teachers are "teaching the test" which is replacing good teaching practices and instruction time. While China may use standardized testing as a teaching method that does not mean that we should. We should focus on the well being of the student first.

As a conclusion the use of standardized testing is not helping to improve education. Standardized testing only focuses on one point of the subject. Standardized testing have caused districts to reduce the time on other subjects. This is depriving students of extra curricular activities. Students get sick so often that the test comes with instructions on what to do if a student gets sick on it. While standardized testing teaches students to be good at testing it will not help in adult life. Each state has a different test which can not be compared efficiently . Some may argue that standardized testing is good because of China's history of it. Students in China go to school a lot longer than us so that is not a good comparison. That is why standardized tests are not improving education.