Standardized Tests

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses standardized tests, a relatively new concept in evaluating students. The paper provides an overview of their introduction into the field of education and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The paper then attempts to answer there of the most salient questions about standardized test: (1) Are they fair? (2) Do they offer the best and truest evaluation of a student? (3) Should the results reflect upon the teacher? The paper concludes with the author's personal opinion about the tests and offers his recommendations to the national government on the debate over the tests' use in determining school funding levels and teacher raises.

From the Paper:

"All that goes into creating, delivering, and scoring these tests lends to the term "standardized." The purpose of the specific test may be "norm" or "criterion" referenced. The norm-reference tests may work more favorably when you are looking for general ability in certain areas like Algebra or History. The term "norm" refers to the group that the end result is compared to; the kind of student who takes the test. Judging the abilities of a large group or searching for top candidates for just a few openings may best be accomplished in this manner. The criticism against the character of this test is that not all equally intelligent students may compare fairly against any given group of so called "norms". For instance, the cultural backgrounds of the students may have been so diverse as to hinder their ability to comprehend the questions in an equitable manner. What may seem to be a logical way to arrange objects to the writer of the question, or the norm group, may appear illogical to the student from a different cultural region."

More papers on Standardized Tests:

• Analytical Essay # 69718 : "Standardized Tests"
• Research Paper # 75138 : "The Fairness of Standardized Tests"
• Analytical Essay # 57194 : "Standardized Tests"

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