Standardized? I think not
You know what I think about “standardized” testing? While I think the idea behind it is commendable, the actual tests and the process of taking them are far from perfect.
First off, I think the idea of a standard, national yardstick for measuring “intelligence” is a good idea. The education system in the U.S. is a mess, and so a standardized test is necessary to truly see which students are more prepared for college.
But how standardized are the tests we have today? The two tests I have been stressing over for a long time now are the ACT and the SAT. They both have their own scoring systems and the two tests themselves are drastically different. In my opinion, it is impossible to juxtapose the two or say without a doubt that this is THE standardized test.
This in turn creates a lot of problems for everyone. Students have to study for TWO tests in the middle of their busiest year in high school. Colleges have to consider which test to look at. The Midwest is predominately ACT while everywhere else favors the SAT.
What irks me is that the SAT people changed their test because they fell out of favor in California. Clearly they were looking out for their own interests although they tell everyone else that they changed the test for their sake. I’m pretty sure the ACT had something like this before too. This is a conflict of interest, and I think that in the end the students are getting screwed.
How to change to make things better?
One, the U.S. Department of Education can probably come up with a fair, national test that everyone has to take. Of course, this means that the SAT and the ACT would have to be eliminated. Colleges will then measure everyone on the same scale. Students will study for the same test. Everyone is happy — except for the College Board, but who cares about them?
Anyways, just a random thought.
— Ranny Ma
Comments
The idea that you can judge intelligence solely based on a standardized test is ludicrous. And it’s also pathetic how a lot of schools in the US are conforming the curriculum to the standardized tests. There are a lot of important lessons that no amount of standardized test material will ever teach you.
Not to mention the fact that some people just simply do better at tests than others. Again, that’s no measure of intelligence — just test taking ability.
And what about those not looking to major in anything having to do with Math, Science, or English? We’ll I guess their screwed if they happen to be brilliant at history or another subject not tested on the ACT or SAT.
And the idea that someone should have to study for a standardized test is stupid. You don’t get smarter by studying for a standardized test.
Posted by: Isaac Chambers | March 17, 2007 5:13 PM