Are Standardized Tests Necessary?

Standardized testing is used by many schools across the country. Many colleges and universities require students to take standardized tests for admissions. More and more universities have removed this requirement, making it optional for students, from the admissions process due to COVID-19. And more colleges are reconsidering how necessary and effective it really is.

Initially, standardized testing doesn’t accurately measure the knowledge of a student, proving ineffective. According to Forbes, “researches have found evidence that standardized test scored such as the SAT and ACT are worse predictors of a student’s success in college than other measures, such as high school GPA.” The truth is that some students are just not good test-takers, so judging a student’s chances of acceptance in a college by that one test isn’t right. The scores the students receive don’t accurately provide a true picture of a student’s abilities. Not only that but these scores can have a huge negative impact on these students’ confidence. The majority of standardized tests is multiple choice, and not all students are skilled at these sort of question, making it unfair and a major disadvantage.

The subject of standardized testing has been circulating ever since the pandemic hit, causing these exams to be canceled throughout the nation. Using these tests to judge and assess students’ abilities is harmful. We should start looking at these tests, not as the only value judgment on the student, but as an additional criterion that can provide some perspective on student learning.