Testing

Rachel Platt

Standardized Tests
Definition:

Tests that have uniform

procedures for administering and scoring,
allow for a students performance to be
compared among their peers at a national
and state level (Santrock, 2011)

Not IQ test, but aptitude or achievement tests

Brief History

According to Time Magazine, first evidence of testing

is found in China in imperial courts
Started in the United States with WWI Army Alpha
test developed by Robert Yerkes (ASVAB, 2015)
Established in Schools with the Elementary and
Secondary Act of 1965 and U.S. Public Law 107-110
(No Child Left Behind Act) (U.S. Department of
Education, 2015)
The No Child Left Behind Act poses to hold schools
and school districts accountable for the success or
failure of their students

Types of Standardized Tests

Standards-based tests: assess skills that the

students are expected to know for their age
High-stakes tests: have important consequences for
the students future
Aptitude tests: predict a students ability to learn a
skill with further education
Achievement tests: measure what the student has
learned
(Santrock, 2011)

National Tests
Wechsler

Individual Achievement Test (WIAT)

National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP)

Largest continuing standardized test administered

by the U.S. Department of Education
Measures math, reading, science, and writing
abilities for fourth, eighth and twelfh graders

ACT/SAT

State Tests
The

Illinois Standards Achievement Test

(ISAT)

Measures students achievement in math, reading,

writing and science

Prairie

Measures reading, math, science, and writing

achievement in eleventh grade

Illinois

State Achievement Examination

Alternate Assessment

Assessment for students with cognitive disabilities

Pros and Cons

Pros:
Keep track of student progress objectively
Identify students strengths and weaknesses
Placement of students into specific programs
Help teachers with lesson planning and improving
instruction
Keeps schools accountable for their teaching

Pros and Cons

Cons:
Doesnt

take account of external factors

Can harm students overall learning
Standardized test show racial bias (College
Board of Education, 2010)
The success of school is dependent on
students

Conclusion

Works Cited
ASVAB | History of Military Testing." ASVAB | History of Military Testing. ASVAB, n.d. Web. 25
July 2015.
"Elementary and Secondary Education Act." Elementary and Secondary Education Act. U.S.
Department of Education, n.d. Web. 25 July 2015.
Fletcher, Dan. "Standardized Testing." Time. Time Inc., 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 25 July 2015.
Jasnick, Scot. "New Evidence of Racial Bias on SAT | InsideHigherEd." New Evidence of Racial
Bias on SAT | InsideHigherEd. Inside Higher Education, 21 June 2010. Web. 25 July 2015.
Palmer, Jim. "Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)." Illinois Standard Achievement Test
(ISAT). Illinois State Board of Education, n.d. Web. 25 July 2015.
Santrock, John W. "Chapter 15." Educational Psychology. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
Print.

11+.