Standardized tests are administered
in a consistent manner. The purpose of standardized testing is to set
benchmarks for assessing large groups of people. For example the Regents
examinations are a state wide standardized test given to New York students.
“High school students in New York State take Regents Exams to assess their
mastery of New York State Learning Standards.” (NYC Department of Education, 2016)
The Regents examinations are created by a “conference of selected New York teachers in
each test's specific discipline who assemble a test map that highlights the
skills and knowledge required from the specific discipline's learning
standards.” (Dansville Central Schools, 2016)
On a nationwide scale we have the Common Core State Standards Initiative. I do not have experience in teaching math or English
at a K-12 level, but I have heard both sides of this argument. My understanding of the purpose of the common
core standards addresses many issues.
The propagators of the Common Core want to raise the educational
standards in Math and English nationwide.
They want to set definite standards and competencies for each grade
level across the U.S. Standardized
testing would assess whether students achieved the set learning objectives. There are many objections to the common core,
including the federal “take over” of educational standards. The objection that makes most sense to me is
that education is not a one size fits all process. Common Core does not take into account certain
diversities.
Another comment is that standardized testing is used to weed out the “weaker”
students as the candidates compete for admission in whatever the test is for. An applicant may be a strong candidate for a
position or enrollment, yet if the student does not score high on the standard
exam they are denied entry. As we
learned in previous modules, low test scores may not indicate low ability in
the subject area. My favorite example is
Albert Einstein scoring low on scholastic tests. Those tests failed in assessing Einstein’s
academic abilities.
