Studying for a test is crucial for being successful. Tests represent how much a student knows. Standardized testing makes it so that the test is the same level of difficulty for every student. This allows anyone to take the test and represents how much they have learned. But how effective are these tests at determining a student’s knowledge? There seems to be a split between whether it is or not. There are many pros and cons when it comes standardize testing. These pros and cons can help determine the worth of the test results.

Standardized tests are made so that people can evaluate a student’s knowledge. These tests are designed so that students from all walks of life can take it and have an equal chance. One pro of standardized tests is the inclusiveness of the test. No one is left out of these tests. According to ProCon.org , a website dedicated to pros and cons on controversial issues, “alternate tests for minorities or exempting children with disablities would be unfair for those students.” Having separate test would promote segregation and further prompt racism. It would lead to many darwinistic arguments over race and would drive people further apart. Another pro to standardized testing is it provides a lot of data. It allows researchers to see trends in the data at a very low cost. These researchers can find issues with the educators in an area, or show how great teachers are in a certain area. This can lead to changes and improve education all around.

Standardized tests, while useful in many ways, can also lead to many issues. A testing atmosphere affects students differently dependent on the individual. Some may thrive and perform better, while others will freeze and fail in a glorious flame. Due to this, standardized tests can be very unreliable. According to Brookings Institute, one of Washington’s oldest think tanks, “ 50-80% of year-over-year test score improvements were temporary and caused by fluctuations.” This supports the claims of test takers ability to perform on a given day. If Improvements are based on a day’s performance, then the tests scores are not an accurate representation of a student’s abilities. Another con to standardized tests is that it promotes the “drill to kill” method. This type of teaching is strictly based on memorization. The “drill to kill” method devalues actual learning, and puts memorization on a marble pedestal. This method is necessary to do well on standardized tests. This leads to the argument of whether students are becoming educated members of society or just excellent test takers. Both sides have valid opinions and neither can be proven either way.

Standardized Tests will determine a student’s future. They will decided whether they are accepted to a college or whether they get their dream job. Should these test hold so much power over one’s life? The effectiveness of these tests will remain in question for many years to come