Standardized test was first enacted to grade-schoolers in 1996. This serves as the mandatory tests concerning a student’s reading, writing, and mathematical skills. The Education Ministry in Ontario annually uses this kind of test for the purpose of elevating the level of standards in education for future development. The government spends millions of dollars yearly for this matter.
Standardized test is a method of examination in which it evaluates the learning of students uniformly according primarily to a collection of criteria functional among all test takers. Standardized testing is in a uniform manner for the reason of utilizing it under the manageable conditions. Such conditions are none stated time pressure; the test does not have multiple choices; and non-high-stake test. This method is somewhat word widely utilized for all levels of education: kindergarten, grade-schoolers, high school, college and even for adult test takers. To think that it is accepted by several nations, it is comprehensively obvious that there are arguments about the matter.
Pros of Standardized Testing
- Accountability – Accountability is one thing that this kind of examination offers which is accountable for both teachers and students. The teacher prepares and carries out the tasks associated with certain learning skills and uniformly applied across the students. After the tasks are completely accomplished by the students, the teacher easily evaluates the score since there is uniformity in standards or criteria. This is the accountability benefited by the professor. He or she will not find it difficult to readjust the level of standards in instructions on the basis of individual scores.
Students are knowledgeable enough about the topics that should be covered and the skills that must be improved.
- Fairness in Evaluation – The uniformity in criteria that is established on the examination promotes fairness in every aspect. A number of students that takes up the exam will be answering similar questions so therefore, there is an assurance of equality.
Cons of Standardized Testing
Objectivity – Requirements of standardized tests have greatly influences the kinds of instructions given out to those pupils. As all school institutions achieve to meet up with the standards of these tests, they disregard instructions which are non-related and will come in no use during the exam. This forces instructors to “teach to the test” This effect generally narrows the range of quality education and restricts them from broadening their knowledge concerning independent skill development.
Normalization – Another issue about the standardized test is normalization. Because of uniform application of certain criteria, this matter emotionally and mentally influences a student’s performance and skills. There is a diminished creative way of learning due to the mere fact that all school institutes that takes up this test have to focus only on attaining an impressive evaluation and honor for the institute itself from educational government. Directly saying, this evaluation of the student body’s score is done as a whole.
How Do You Feel about the Standardized Testing?
These pros and cons of this type of examination are continuously debated by subscribers and critics. However, these do not influence the educational governments to stop utilizing standardized testing for evaluating primarily a school’s annual performance. Internally, school teachers have analogous method of evaluating their student’s capabilities as well, which is generally a traditional technique.
