Standardized testing in schools: Weighing the pros and cons

For over a century, schools have used standardized tests to collect data on student performance, instructional quality in schools, and to determine school ratings. Despite their uniform or “standard” nature, standardized tests have come under fire for not just being a poor indicator of a students’ abilities, but for adversely affecting minority students.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges dropped the SAT as a requirement for college. Currently, more than 80% of colleges will not require students to submit their SAT or ACT results, stating that students need to be judged on a more holistic level and not on “any single factor.” Ivy League colleges have made the SAT optional. 

Reassessing the need to either reform or get rid of standardizing testing has become a part of a larger national conversation. Discover both sides of the argument and how people want to move forward with standardized testing in schools.

What are standardized testing and assessments?

Standardized assessments are a tool used by states to predict how well a student is prepared for the future, evaluate the effectiveness of teachers, and the overall academic standards of schools in the United States. 

What does standardized testing entail?

A standardized test is when students are presented with the same set of questions and are graded in a “standard” or “consistent” manner. These tests can be taken using pencil and paper, or digitally on a computer. Test results are used to: 

• Evaluate and compare student performance across states and districts
• Determine college admissions
• Measure teacher efficacy
• Decide which states and school districts require more resources to optimize student learning

Each student has the exact same amount of time to answer questions. The consistent scoring system is designed to prevent bias and discrimination in the assessment results. These tests are typically taken on an annual basis and students are graded on their reading and math skills. 

Purpose of standardized testing

• To measure students academic readiness for Kindergarten, high school, college or graduate school
• To collect and analyze statewide and nationwide data to on educational achievement and identify achievement gaps and how those can be mitigated
• To hold teachers accountable for learning standards
• Identify where students struggle and craft a new curriculum

Types of standardized assessments

There are nationwide standardized assessments and those that vary state by state. Assessments at both levels measure student competency in certain subjects, specifically math and reading.

State-specific assessments

Statewide standardized assessments measure student performance in math, reading and science for the purpose of state and regional data analysis. In order to receive federal funds, every state must implement standardized assessments in math and reading annually in third through eighth year, and once in ninth through 12th grade. This may vary by state. 

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 maintains state testing to promote educational equity, ensuring all students have access to a quality public education that prepares them to excel.

Each state can choose its own curriculum and establish learning standards to assess student performance. In Iowa, student assessments are known as the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, whereas the Massachusetts adjacent is called the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. While these tests are important for regional or state analysis, results can’t be compared from state to state.

National Assessments

National assessments compare student performance on a national level. The NAEP  assessment includes students from public and private schools across the country. The main NAEP assesses students from grades 4, 8, and 12 taking math and reading tests. Long-term trend NAEPs offer an extended view of math and reading levels of students at ages 9, 13, and 17 at a national level.

Other forms of National Assessments determine admission into post-secondary institutions.  These include the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) to get into undergraduate school. Graduate schools have other standardized tests such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). 

Breaking down the debate: Pros and cons of standardized tests

Experts and educators weigh in on the pros and cons of standardized testing. Here are the key points to know.

Pros

Standardized tests offer a uniform measure of education

The intention of standardized tests is that it’s an equitable assessment system, grading students on the same questions. Upholding consistent standards of grading also helps to mitigate any bias, discrimination or favoritism in the process. 

States also employ psychometricians to create standardized tests who make sure the tests are fair across populations of students. Psychometricians assess how students across various age groups interact with the news or their surroundings. 

Mike Moulton, a Washington-based psychometrician spoke about how he came across an earthquake question designed specifically for students in California. The same question somehow appeared in a standardized test in Vermont, New England. Naturally, California students knew more about earthquakes than New England students. 

They provide consistent data to evaluate school standards

Standardized tests help organize data from over the years to compare performance results across schools, school districts, and states. It also helps pinpoint areas where schools or students need to improve. 

Data collected over the years can indicate trends in performance. If, for example, fifth grade reading results drop or jump, data helps us identify what changes led to such results. This informs and helps decide whether changes in curriculum or teaching standards need to be implemented. Standardized assessments also assign ratings to schools and help the government make decisions on resource allocations.

Test scores help track student progress

Similar tests taken over time helps students keep track of their academic progress. A report by the Council of the Great City Schools found that a student takes an average of 112 standardized tests from Pre-K through K-12. This is useful for students to chart their improvement in certain subjects throughout their time in school. Test scores also determine a student’s readiness to progress to the next grade or stage in their education.

Higher test scores predict higher academic success in college

A recent study shows that students who had higher SAT or ACT scores had a higher college GPA than students who had a higher college GPA and low SAT or ACT score. It shows that students with the highest possible SAT and ACT scores had a 0.43 points higher GPA in their first year of college than students with lower SAT and ACT scores. The study also found that despite socioeconomic class, gender or race, those with comparable SAT/ACT scores did well in school. 

They are useful metrics in teacher evaluations

Alongside tracking student performance, standardized assessments are also important in holding teachers accountable for their teaching techniques. Poor test scores are an indicator that these teachers need to uphold higher learning standards and adopt better techniques to enhance student learning. 

Cons

Standardized tests are costly 

Standardized tests can be expensive for low-income students which can dissuade them from taking the test altogether. The SAT, for example, is important for college admissions and students have to pay approximately $100 out of pocket to take the exam. The cost of the test, combined with the recent affirmative action ban has had an impact on how low-income and nonwhite students approach college admissions. This influences their decision to apply.

Restrictive curriculum

Since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools prioritize math and reading to ensure the best test results, while other subjects are deprioritized.

Research finds that 62% of schools who participate in nationwide assessments and 75% of schools at the state level spend twice as much time on math and reading than other subjects. Standardized tests don’t evaluate creativity or problem-solving skills found in the arts and civics disciplines. This makes the curriculum for standardized tests very limited. 

Standardized testing favors students from wealthy families

Despite standardized tests being uniform in their grading and content, studies show that they cater to white, middle-to-high income populations. Not only do wealthy students have access to the best resources and instructors to do well in these tests, but they have the opportunity and capital to take them as many times as they like. 

Sometimes these tests rely on knowledge held predominantly by white, wealthy students. A California- based educator shared how a 10th grade question on ‘key to the city’ indicated racial and classist biases in standardized tests. 

Standardized tests are not an accurate depiction of a student’s abilities

Standardized tests depend on how well a student performs on the test they take on that very day. Test results don’t take into account a student’s mental health or personal circumstances that might hinder their ability to do well. 

Additionally, internal assessments and teacher evaluations show that students may have a comprehensive understanding of concepts in math or language, but may not do well at answering multiple choice questions.

Teachers are only teaching for the test

As standardized assessments are important for school ratings, student performance, and teacher evaluations, teachers increasingly find themselves preparing students specifically for these tests. 

They teach a set curriculum to ensure academic targets are met. This limits teachers’ ability to try innovative teaching techniques or educating students on something that might be beneficial for them but is out of the syllabus.

Proposed standardized testing reform

Now that we have examined the pros and cons of standardized testing, let’s turn to how we can actually push to make it more equitable.

Increase federal funding to support assessment redesigns

Experts suggest increasing federal funding to support assessment redesigns under ESSA’s pilot program. This funding would allow states to explore innovative assessment models, study the limitations of current testing on teaching and curriculum, and assess how they impact student achievement. The pilot would give states five years to develop and test new approaches to find the most effective models.

Use performance-based assessments

At present, annual standardized assessments only test students on their math and reading skills. These tests which are either in multiple choice, computer-adaptive or written formats, rely on memorization of knowledge and content. 

Incorporating performance-based assessments is one way to diversify learning standards. This empowers students to take on projects, conduct deep investigations and analysis, or do practical training. Not only does this give students a more holistic education, but it levels the playing field by reducing bias and discrimination in schools. It also ensures students from all racial and income brackets have the opportunity to take on their own projects. 

A successful example of performance-based assessments is the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA) where the focus is on fostering a dynamic learning environment and not just determining student ability through a single standardized test.

Empower teachers

Analysts emphasize the need to empower teachers to deploy their own teaching methods and have access to teacher training programs to help students achieve academic excellence. As they engage directly with their students, they become aware of their strengths and weaknesses and what techniques to employ to help students learn and close academic gaps. 

Incentivize standardized tests

Standardized tests that are required to get into higher education and specialized programs all have registration fees. Books required to study for these exams are also costly and some low-income students can’t afford them. As a result, states must incentivize not just these tests but also the resources required to study them. An option could be to make these tests free or to offer them to low-income students at discounted prices. 

Standardized test-related petitions on Change.org

Petitions are powerful in driving meaningful change to an issue. In the digital age, they can reach a large number of people and push governments to make changes to the education system and how it administers standardized tests. Here are some Change.org petitions calling for standardized testing reform.

Call to ban annual standardized tests

This petition, started in February 2022, has 163 supporters and aims to push the government to ban annual standardized testing in Delaware. 

The petition calls standardized testing “unnecessary” because of its one-size-fits all approach that alienates a lot of students, induces anxiety, and only prepares students for the test and not for the future. Rote learning and memorization are also techniques used to pass these examinations which do not encourage or enhance a student’s creativity or critical thinking.

Making standardized testing optional

This 2021 petition seeks to make standardized testing optional for American students across the country.

The petitioner points out that the rigid nature and scope of standardized testing only benefits certain populations. They claim some students may understand key concepts but not deal well with answering multiple choice questions on a grid or with the anxiety that comes with these assessments. 

Removing the SAT as a requirement to graduate high school

This petition calls for a high school in Texas to drop the SAT as a requirement for graduation. Started in April 2024, the petition was started by students of Cibola High School who say their school administration told them midway through their senior year that they would need to score above 910 to graduate high school. This petition currently has 415 supporters. 

Making ACT and SAT tests free

This petition addresses the issue of the high costs associated with the SAT and ACT tests. These standardized tests are required to get into college and students must pay approximately $100 to register. 

The petition was started in November 2023 and currently has over 2,000 signatures.

Shaping the future of standardized testing in education

Reforming standardized testing in the U.S. education system requires getting the state and federal government involved in reimagining testing models. Some ways to create meaningful change include identifying achievement gaps between people of different backgrounds and empowering teachers to experiment with different teaching methods 

If you feel passionate about the current state of standardized testing in schools and want to see it evolve, you can start a petition to get the attention of your local decision makers.