Standardized testing is an important factor in the American school system. The methodology was first created in China, where they tested the knowledge of people applying to government jobs, but the examinations in the Western world are used as a convenient way for the government to quickly test large numbers of students in order to determine who is prepared to further their education and how good of a job schools are doing. The ACT and the SAT tests have become one of the biggest elements that influence the college-admissions process, and students are taking these exams more than ever. However, standardized testing does not accurately evaluate students’ overall knowledge and preparedness; but rather, what they know on a specific day the test
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The amount of pressure put on them creates great stress, and while some people perform well with a certain level of stress, others do not. Neurological research shows that stress is psychologically and physically harmful. A study conducted by Joan Herman and Shari Golan, both from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that the pressure of getting students to score highly on those exams has a negative impact on teachers, and that due to the accountability, “teachers reported instances of cheating-giving direct hints to students or changing student responses on tests and feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem” (Effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers and Learning – Another Look, 1991). Similarly, the stress experienced by students because of the pressure to perform well on the tests has severe impacts on their health. A recent study conducted by a few experts found that “students experienced high levels of chronic stress, particularly in relation to academic performance and the college admissions process” (A Multi-method Exploratory Study of Stress, Coping, and Substance Use among High School Youth in Private Schools, 2015). Moreover, students described as their main sources of stress advanced placement classes, various extra-curricular activities, tutoring and preparation for standardized testing. Studies show that in the short term, stress can cause …show more content…
Without this structure teachers of different grades could be teaching the exact same content, and schools would most likely not be held as responsible for students’ academic achievements as they are now. Many believe that “teaching to the test" can be a good thing because it focuses on essential content and skills, and motivates students to excel. The US Department of Education stated in Nov. 2004 that "if teachers cover subject matter required by the standards and teach it well, then students will master the material on which they will be tested--and probably much more”. While it is true that standardized testing creates a set of necessary skills and a certain threshold that must be met by students, teachers, and schools, there is much more in life to be learned than just algebra and correcting words in a passage, for
The amount of pressure put on them creates great stress, and while some people perform well with a certain level of stress, others do not. Neurological research shows that stress is psychologically and physically harmful. A study conducted by Joan Herman and Shari Golan, both from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that the pressure of getting students to score highly on those exams has a negative impact on teachers, and that due to the accountability, “teachers reported instances of cheating-giving direct hints to students or changing student responses on tests and feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem” (Effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers and Learning – Another Look, 1991). Similarly, the stress experienced by students because of the pressure to perform well on the tests has severe impacts on their health. A recent study conducted by a few experts found that “students experienced high levels of chronic stress, particularly in relation to academic performance and the college admissions process” (A Multi-method Exploratory Study of Stress, Coping, and Substance Use among High School Youth in Private Schools, 2015). Moreover, students described as their main sources of stress advanced placement classes, various extra-curricular activities, tutoring and preparation for standardized testing. Studies show that in the short term, stress can cause …show more content…
Without this structure teachers of different grades could be teaching the exact same content, and schools would most likely not be held as responsible for students’ academic achievements as they are now. Many believe that “teaching to the test" can be a good thing because it focuses on essential content and skills, and motivates students to excel. The US Department of Education stated in Nov. 2004 that "if teachers cover subject matter required by the standards and teach it well, then students will master the material on which they will be tested--and probably much more”. While it is true that standardized testing creates a set of necessary skills and a certain threshold that must be met by students, teachers, and schools, there is much more in life to be learned than just algebra and correcting words in a passage, for