For all of us still trudging through public schools and those whose tax dollars fund our education...

Does standardized testing (SATs ACTs etc.) accurately measure a student's capacity, and, more importantly, should it be as integral to education as it is currently?

I don't think we have to judge one's intelligence on a few tests, but more of the hardwork they put into their homework, test work, etc.


They're a waste of time. Let the teacher brand the student of what they deserve in a class.

it's not accurate, but it's necessary. i mean look at it this way, all tests whether standardized or not are used to determine your level. tests in general may not accurately determine your ability, but it attempts to determine if you've actually learned anything in class. for those in public schools, take ap/ib classes, or are in honors courses, all tests are standardized.

and multiple-choice tests mean less bias when grading. everything's fair; it's either right or wrong. the essay makes things more complicated, but i do appreciate the college board's efforts at including writing skills in the test.

standardized tests accurately measure your ability to take that standardized test.

^ Aw, look at that. Over a year ago.. Justin being Justin and me being me. Why, we haven't changed at all! And this was before Justin's miserable summer of PSAT/SAT practice tests, too...

No. Sure, they tell you what you don't know, but for ISteps, the standardized test for elementary, middle, and high schoolers in Indiana, for instance, you don't get the results for the tests at least until February, so I really think they're quite pointless. And the people who are seeing these poor results, what are they doing? Adding more tests! Because that'll totally help us understand better what we need to know.

Even what we need to know is bullcrap. In my school at least, they want a lot of the language classes out, and put in more math and science classes! Hurray! Because when all of us get out of college, we're totally going to go into something that has to do with math or science.. -_-

^ Wellllll...

But yea, going off of Frankie's (since we go to the same school), our school is dumb. They actually had even an inkling of an idea that they were going to fire our art teacher. Noh uh.

Oh they better not. If that was Mr. Hunter's idea, I swear I'm going to do major bodily harm to that man.

The SATs and ACTs are necessary, but I agree about the inaccuracy.
People in my area take tutoring classes starting 7TH GRADE (for $1000 PER LESSON) just to memorize that freakin vocabulary. Also, SAT added the writing portion to it, then people will start taking writing classes too. There's no meaning to the test if everyone needs to take vocabulary memorizing lessons to get a good score on it.

I am glad that universities look at GPAs more than the SAT scores.

Also, tests like STAR (standardized testing and reporting, for California) for students of all grades are necessary, but it shouldn't be taken that early (April). The courses for science, history, and math won't even be completed at that point. So, those who wanted to score an advanced in the tests would have to study the stuff (according to the state standards, that would be 30% of the entire curriculum) they haven't learned yet. Even most of the teachers at my school strongly opposed to the idea of state testings, but there's nothing they can do about it.

Then again, without the standardized tests you'd leave an abitrary hole in the education system. People can overexaggerate extra credit, grade points, and general fraud.

With standardized tests, you're forced into an uncomfortable classroom with 30-40 other kids for three hours on a Saturday to take a test. That's how it has to be.

SATs and other standardized tests are not a measure of intelligence, but of how much you know out of how much you should know/should have learned in school by then.

i think they're accurate, and i totally approve of thier usage. :thumbs up:

i love standardized tests as they give me the chance to excel as a student in a way suited for me. ive never been a great student so tests like the SATs and the MCAS(massachusetts comprehensive standardized test) are a way for me to show schools that im more than a subpar student.

^same here.