Standardized tests are required in all American public schools. As a staff, we believe that we don’t need them, here are all the reasons why.

We believe that how well you do on a test shouldn’t define your intelligence. For example, you may be tired and not able to answer with your full ability. Some students also get really stressed on test days.

According to Kidshealth.com, when you get scared about a test you start to have negative thoughts. When that happens you get more anxious and you do poorly. 

We also think that these tests are a bad idea because most colleges don’t look at them.  Inside Higher Ed said only 4% of colleges use standardized test scores for admission.

As a staff, we’ve realized many students don’t care about these tests. Kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools spend on average about 16 days taking standardized tests. We could be learning something more beneficial. 

According to Education Consumers Foundation, multiple-choice tests cost around $15  per student. However, for performance state assessments the cost jumps to $33 per student. The school could be using that money for better educational resources. 

  The tests don’t match what we learn in class. As stated by the National Education Association standardized tests don’t accurately measure students’ learning and growth. 

Overall, standardized tests may give the state a broad range of how students are doing. Yet they don’t adequately reflect the real knowledge we’ve acquired during the course of the year.