How to Improve Standardized Tests

How to Improve Standardized Tests

By Leo Deng
Grade 8

Math standardized test scores are easier to improve than reading scores. Would you want to have many standardized tests throughout the year, or just one exam at the end? Having one final test sounds more right. You would want to study all school year for one big test that can measure your results and not make more standardized tests. This is because that having more tests could increase students’ stress. It also does not reflect the student’s ability as their mental state changes from day to day. More tests do not keep track of student improvement. One big test will measure the improvement each year.

First, too many tests can inflict stress on students as after they finish one test, another one will be taken soon. Cortisol, a hormone released by stress, can make student focus level drop and can lead to poor test scores making their mental state even lower. Also, Long term stress can lead to high blood pressure and depression. The text states, “Elevated cortisol levels ‘make concentration difficult,’ but also because ‘prolonged stress exposure’ burns kids out and increases the likelihood of disengagement and academic failure.” (Terada, 10) Having too many tests, will raise kids’ cortisol level and is negatively affecting their learning. Which can cause kids to fail tests because of too much stress.

Second, having more tests can increase the chance of a student having a bad day on test day. A student’s mental state changes from day to day, and this determines how well they do on tests. Having more tests increases the chance of a student having an imperfect day on a test because of stress. As a result, this can impact how they do on certain tests that require a lot of thinking and negatively affects their score. According to the text, “All tests have ‘measurement error.’ This means an individual’s score may vary significantly from day to day due to testing conditions or the test-taker’s mental or emotional state.” (FairTest, 5) This explains how a students’ test taking conditions are going to be different every day and having more tests will make the chance for having a bad day for a student higher as every test their mood is different. Which would make the student do poorly on a test because they are not mentally prepared that day.

Lastly, tests can make teaching critical information by schools shortened, therefore the teachers will only focus on instructing the test. More tests, mean more teaching and new teaching about the test which leaves even shorter time for teachers to teach actual information. Tests also only focus on one specific thing which does not show student ability that well and cannot measure student improvement with many tests. For instance, one big test can be necessary to show the improvement of the student from year to year and not between short periods which you could see little to no improvement. “Tests rob schools of critical instructional time, encourage teaching to the test, place undue pressure on students and educators to perform, are educationally irrelevant, only provide a snapshot of student achievement at a specific moment in time.”(McDougald, 1) Since teachers have to prepare the students for the upcoming tests, this will inflict stress on students and take away time to learn curriculum. More tests throughout the year would mean more time teachers waste on getting students ready for the test and less teaching of actual information.

Some people may say that more tests mean more improvement to students because there are more opportunities to learn. However, more tests will actually cause greater stress on students, which can prevent them from learning important points and therefore, doing poorly on tests. To sum it up, more tests throughout the school year puts stress on students to learn and perform well. Also, increased test do not reflect a student’s actual ability as their mental state changes when having more stress. Finally, tests can not accurately measure student growth between short periods of time while having many tests. You would not want to have so many standardized tests that you are overwhelmed throughout the year. People should encourage students to learn more information and take tests when they are necessary to make the best out of their learning.