by Brett Hofmeister

Created on: February 28, 2009

Using standardized test scores to evaluate student ability takes the human element out of the question. When comparing two computers one can put the numbers against each other and decide which computer is better. This method works because the computers' stats are all that matters. There isn't any human element involved because computers don't have personality, intuition, or motivation. Students, and all people for that matter, do have personality, intuition, and motivation. These characteristics are immeasurable and people are worth far more than what any standardized test can show.

Standardized tests can work, for most people, as a very broad determination of their ability. There are a lot of people who have no problem taking tests and their test score will accurately display how much they know. There are also many people who will be misrepresented by their test scores and these people should not be forgotten. I know people who can get perfect scores on their homework assignments and projects consistently but when it comes to tests they freeze up and can't remember enough to pass. These people are the people who standardized testing is most unfair to. Why should such students be considered less able than an average student who has an average test score? They shouldn't.

I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I tend to do better on tests than I should because I use logic to figure out answers I don't know. There are many strategies for test taking, especially with multiple choice and true or false tests. I use these when I don't know the answer to have a better chance of getting a higher score. I like to take tests on subject matter I know little or nothing about to see if I can beat the test by using logical thinking. I always do better than random guessing and that proves to me that if I know most of the material I could get a very high score even though I might not deserve it. I am the kind of student whose test score cheats whoever is using it to judge me. My scores make me look better than I am.

Standardized tests can't accurately determine whether a student knows the material or if they are just good at taking tests. It isn't fair for students to be judged based on a test that can't measure their ability. It also isn't fair to schools, colleges, and statistics to have people, like me, who always score higher than they should.

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