STANDARDIZED TESTING 2
Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing (ST) in All Schools
Standardized testing can be defined as a common test created and administered to
students in order to achieve a clear picture of the school’s, teachers’, and students’ performance.
Objectively, it is used to evaluate a student’s academic achievement and potential. Notably, it
became common in schools after the “No Child Left Behind’ era (Brown, 2004). Even so,
standardized testing has proved to be a controversial talking point among students, teachers, and
schools, among others. Some say that it is an accurate measure of a student’s performance and
effectiveness of the teacher. By contrast, others see it as a not only a biased but also an inflexible
approach. Particularly, this paper explores the typical arguments for and against Standardized
testing in schools.
As likely as not, the most undisputable benefit of standardized testing is that it promotes
the accountability of teachers and schools. The educators take full responsibilities of delivering
to students what they are required to while the school ensures a conducive environment for
learning and teaching to take place by providing the necessary resources and facilities. Besides,
with the scores achieved being for public use, teachers and schools must perform to par to avoid
intense examinations that can even lead to loss of jobs or closure of the school or take over by
the state. Evidently, standardized testing in school is for a mutual good for students, teachers,
and schools.
Undoubtedly, standardized testing enhances comparison. Being a common test in all
schools, standardized testing provides an error-free comparison across different schools, districts,
or even states. Referring to the scores achieved, educators identify the areas that need
improvement for their students. For example, if the teachers noted a poor performance in
English, they should focus on improving the English curriculum to improve their next score. For
