Should Standardized Tests Be Modified?

In Miss Boy’s class we were learning about standardized tests and how they overlap into teaching and in the middle of learning about standardized tests we were interrupted by an I-step practice test. I mentioned that because I thought it was ironic since during the reading about standardized tests we were learning about how they take up class time that could be used for learning then a practice test interrupted the our class. These reasons are why we we should change standardized tests to better our students, teachers, and schools. Standardized tests should be modified. This essay will explain that standardized tests should be modified because we spend too much class time on tests, they have too many tests and more tests doesn’t mean better results, and the standardized tests are low quality.

First, this paragraph will explain that we spend too much class time on tests. The US takes 112 tests from pre-k to 12th grade which is 9 tests a year during class. This shows that we take a lot of tests that don’t help us throughout our school careers. Schools have wasted 20-25 hours a year taking tests and that’s not including test preparation or practice. This shows that we have spent a lot of class time taking tests when we could’ve been learning. 2.3% of class time is spent testing not teaching (not including preparation and practice time). This doesn’t seem like a lot, but even so this time is spent on testing when it could’ve been spent learning. This is how we spend too much class time on standardized tests. Second, this paragraph will explain that there are too many standardized tests but more tests do not mean better results. …show more content…
The US takes 112 tests, on average, from pre-k to 12th grade, but it is still outperformed by countries that take 3. This proves that just because you take a lot of tests does not mean you are improving because they take much less tests and they still do better. Carvalho, the superintendent of Miami-Dade, cut the tests from 300-10 and took out the elementary tests completely. He did this because he favors quality over quantity which means he wants the tests to be better instead of just having a lot of tests. That’s why standardized tests should be improved because a lot of tests doesn’t mean better results. Third, this paragraph will explain that most standardized tests are low quality. Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, is worried that the cap on testing because they might get rid of the good quality tests. This shows that they could be getting rid of the good tests and keeping the low quality ones which isn’t helping the students or teachers. Carvalho reduced tests from 300-10 and took elementary tests out completely because he didn’t want bad quality tests he want quality over quantity. This shows that you don’t need a lot of tests for good results you just need good quality tests. This is how most standardized tests are low quality. Finally, this paragraph will explain that some people think the tests are a good thing because they will show how well the students are doing. Using the tests teachers can find out what the students have learned and what the students need to help with so that the teacher can