standardized testing., is it accurate? necessary? Options

[winsome]

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?

[EmeraldKnight]

Ah.. standardized testing.. one of society's most loathed paradoxes.. see, the thing is.. they arent accurate.. and they never will be.. but regardless, standardized testing is a fundamental and necessary part of the educational program..

Accuracy problems:
They arent accurate and never will be because:
a. every school teaches different curriculum.. certain aspects may be similar.. but there always will be differences..
b. there are test preparation centers, booklets for them.. how is it accurate if some ppl have access and use these preparation aids, and others do not?

Yet they are necessary because..
a. there needs to be some basis for comparision between different schools, different states
b. the government needs to know how its educational program are doing.. where funding should be allocated, etc..
c. colleges need to be able to decide and select those students best able to adapt and survive their program..

Accurate? SAT IIs are, SAT Is are not.
Integral? They should be, certainly.

I agree with the integral part.. but even SAT II's are not accurate.. because the curriculum still differs.. and say for bio.. some ppl take SAT II biology after taking High school bio, but others take it after AP bio.. so there will be a big diff in scoring..

Sure standardized tests merely focus on the academic aspects of a person's development.. but that's what college applications and interviews are for, to fill in the other aspects

EDIT://

well its an overall average of what kids have learned.... but still it seems inaccurate at times

It is NOT an overall average.. its an overall average of academic learning in certain areas.. by no means can standardized testing measure emotional development, maturity, leadership qualities, or any of the like.. and yes it is inaccurate.. because there are just so many schools.. so many students.. its utterly IMPOSSIBLE to grade a "miracle test" that will be able to accurately judge the academic development of every student in the country.. you try developing a test to do that