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The Value of Standardised Testing

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The value of standardised testing | the value of standardised testing | edupulse magazine
The Value of Standardised Testing | The Value of Standardised Testing | EduPulse Magazine

Standardized testing is a contentious issue internationally. Every education institution conducts large-scale assessments at specific grade levels. There is a large body of research about these large-scale standardized tests with no agreement on their effectiveness. However, while there is some support for standardized testing, overwhelmingly, research suggests that it does not lead to improved educational outcomes for students.

Arguments Against Standardized Testing:

  • There is a tendency to “teach to the test”, which results in narrowing of the curriculum.
  • The tests do not allow for linguistic or other cultural differences among students.
  • The tests do not adequately assess 21st Century skills such as creativity, technological ability, problem-solving, or critical thinking skills. 
  • Standardized testing leads to student disengagement.
  • There is the potential for subgroups of students to become lost within the overall numbers.

Arguments in Favour of Standardized Testing:

  • Results of standardized tests provide an opportunity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
  • The opportunity for comparison of educational outcomes across schools, provinces, or countries.
  • Offering a means to assess accountability.
  • Provincial assessments provide a way to evaluate curricula and determine which schools/districts/provinces are meeting goals.

Even proponents of standardized testing understand the limitations of wide-scale comparison due to the differences between countries, provinces, and even school districts. Some countries with the most extended history of standardized testing understand these limitations, and their dependence on standardized testing is declining.

Methods such as problem-based learning are at the forefront of curriculum design yet are not evaluated in standardized tests. Standardized testing is, therefore, counterproductive as it centres on memory and knowledge gain rather than the ability to apply to learn.

Educators and students should be provided with assessment tools to identify issues and gaps for individual students as well as schools and school districts, improve learning, increase capacity to be independent learners, promote goal setting, and encourage reflection on learning.

Tinashe (Nash) is editor-in-chief and publisher of Edu Pulse Magazine. He brings 8+ years of experience as a journalist, creative writer and digital editor.

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