Standardized Assessments Advantages And Disadvantages

Assessment Today In today’s classrooms, assessments are used regularly in a variety of manners. Educators use formative and summative assessments, standardized assessments, progress monitoring assessments, benchmark assessments, and grade specific assessments to check for understanding, determine present levels, measure growth or mastery, and guide and plan instruction according to students’ results. However, there are disadvantages to using assessments, such as, anxiety for students, teachers only teaching to the test, and time consuming. One of the disadvantages to testing is the anxiety and stress it causes for students and teachers. Summative assessments, benchmark assessments, and standardized assessments can cause a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety on students because of the vast amount of information compiles in the assessment in a variety of forms, as well as the time restraints. Students may feel rushed or pressured to complete the assessments in a given amount of …show more content…
Teachers, students, and school districts need to be held to a certain level of accountability. Teachers’ evaluations are based on students’ performance, which reflects on the teacher’s effectiveness. Assessments keep teachers on their toes and constantly evaluating and reflecting on their instruction. Students are taught study skills and held accountable for learning and studying, which will benefit students when they reach the college level. School Districts are also held accountable to review assessments and assure students are receiving the appropriate education aligned to standards. Districts can use assessment data to determine which curriculums and/or programs that would benefit students at different grade levels and ability levels. Assessments are also important to gather data on students’ specific grade level benchmarks and understanding of skills and content