Its Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests Essay - 1787 Words

High School juniors and seniors are frequently asked what they plan to do for their college education. While discussing their future in college, many relevant topics come into the conversation. One may talk about their grades and classes, paying for school, and their test scores. All of these have a very important impact on what a student will do for the next few years of their life. Unfortunately, in our society, test scores are an extremely important factor in the college admissions process. Students are highly encouraged to put forth a serious effort in order to achieve the best possible score. â€Å"To this day, most four-year colleges require applicants to take one or more of a number of standardized tests for admission, and†¦show more content†¦However, just because the test is popular and widely used doesn’t indicate that it is a valid predictor of college success (Atkinson). The excessive utilization of standardized tests in no manner implies or sugge sts a higher accomplishment. The essentials of this debate are easily comprehensible: Standardized tests are not a high-quality predictor of college success. The truth concerning the predictive abilities of the SAT and ACT is clear; there are simply superior methods to evaluate potential college success. College admissions need to rely more heavily on factors such as High School GPA and SAT Subject and AP Tests, as these pieces of data contain a higher level of predictive power than SAT and ACT scores. Through the comparison of subject-specific tests and GPA to broad standardized tests, it is evident that the principles of our education system must be reinvented. It is widely agreed upon that one’s High School Grade Point Average is the best forecaster of college achievement. â€Å"High school GPA is based on repeated sampling of student performance over a period of years. And college-preparatory classes present many of the same academic challenges that students will fa ce in college, so it should not be surprising that prior performance in such activities would be predictive of later performance† (Atkinson). A student’s application of themselves in high school, asShow MoreRelatedStandardized Testing1272 Words   |  6 PagesSynthesis Essay on Standardized Testing Standardized testing in the United States started in the mid- 1800’s (Standardized Tests - ProCon.org). This kind of testing was originally created to measure students’ performance and progress in school (Standardized Tests - ProCon.org). In recent years, the public school system has relied heavily on the information this test provides, in doing so creating controversy. Other than being a student myself, and participating in multiple standardized exams such asRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesAlternatives to Standardized Tests:. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/restrict.asp?path=archive/13_03/assess.shtml This article speaks about different approaches at the end of the grading period as opposed to using standardized testing. Other ideas are evaluation of the work the student has done throughout the year, or quarter. This would take the place of using a pen and pencil test like the standardized test we currently use. An alternative to standardized testingRead MoreReview Of Francis Lewis High School934 Words   |  4 Pagesgreat educational system should consist of diversity, well prepared and trained teachers, and getting rid of the standardized tests. I believe that the teachers should be prepared to teach and lead a classroom full of curious students who are striving to learn and later use the knowledge in the future. The school should also be filled with diverse people. We should also get rid of the standardized testing to determine who we are. The fact that my school was diverse was a gift. I met all sorts ofRead MoreEssay on Standardized Tests Are Ineffective1578 Words   |  7 PagesStandardized tests are unnecessary because they are excruciating to the minds of many innocent students. Each year, the tests get tougher and stricter until the students cannot process their own thoughts. The tests become torturous to the minds of those only starting in the world of tests. The students already battling in the war are continuing to fall deeper and deeper into the world of uncreativity and narrowness. As the walls narrow in on them, they are lost and unable to become innovative thinkersRead MoreStandardized Testing Is A Common Routine Part Of Their School Year1202 Words   |  5 PagesAngela Li Ms. Weichert English 9H G3 17 November 2016 [INSERT TITLE HERE] For students of all ages across the United States, standardized testing has become a common routine part of their school year. Many laws have been passed over the years, requiring countless standardized tests throughout a student’s educational career for every student.This educational norm has been implemented for the past eighty years for the purpose of allowing comparisons to be made among schools in regards to student achievementRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing Essay674 Words   |  3 PagesStandardized testing is a down fall to many students but also an opportunity for many others. Standardized testing has its pros and its cons. It can be the make it or break it factor into getting into colleges you are hoping to attend or the scholarships you want to earn. Some people may have their opinions about the test, whether they hate it or not but the fact is that it’s here to stay. What exactly is standardized testing you may ask, it is a test which measures the knowledge among differentRead MoreThe Purpose Of College Is A Subject That Is Very Important1273 Words   |  6 Pageshigh school diploma. 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In 2000, Finland had the highest PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) scores in the world. Finland uses very little standardized testing comparedRead MoreThe Stress Of Standardized Tests1605 Words   |  7 PagesThe Stress of Standardized Tests Many know the stressful feeling of having to take the ACT. The exam room fills slowly with worried faces and remains quiet until the test stars. Students grasp their pencils tightly, their palms sweating with the thought of their future at stake with this single test. In order to get into any college, an ACT or SAT score is required. These required scores for admission vary from school to school which can make it difficult for every student to attend their dream schoolRead MoreThe Pressure in Todays High Schools1557 Words   |  7 Pagestheir GPA. As they struggle under never-ending piles of homework and standardized tests, there is little time for students to worry about sports, family, health, rest, or even learning. The unnecessary pressure that today’s high school students suffer from has a huge effect on social lives, mental stability, and physical well-being. The stress is unhealthy and unnecessary and it comes from things like homework or standardized tests. These pro blems can be easily solved with small changes in the education