Standardized Testing

Ashley Smyth and Taylor McDonald

What is Standardized Testing and the

controversy behind it?
Standardized testing is a form of test that requires all
students to answers the same questions in the same
way that is graded in a consistent manner. This allows
one to compare the performance of individual or
groups of students.
The controversy that comes with standardized testing
today is the lack of variety for students to show their
ability in particular skills and the amount of stress a
single test can place upon a student's life.

What are some examples of Standardized

Testing in North America?

The Pros of Standardized Testing

Standardized tests holds schools and teachers responsible for
teaching curriculum.
Places such as China, have the highest academic rates in world
and still participate in standardized testing.
Standardized testing in middle and high schools provide
experience into university testing.

The Cons of Standardized Testing

Standardized testing has not improved student achievement.
They are perceived as unfair towards those with ESL and special
needs in a study done in the USA.
Standardized tests cause severe stress in students.
A Creativity Crisis where students are being forced to use
mainly multiple choice and written answer to show their
understanding of a concept.

Forms of Standardized Testing Elimination

Lowering of Alberta Diploma Examination Weight
Education Alberta has lowered its testing percentage to begin in the 2015/2016
school year for the first time since 1984 when the test began.
Rather than making the examination worth 50% of a Grade 12s final mark in a
class, the test has been reduced to only 30% of the final grade.
This makes the long term, day to day activities of the classroom more
meaningful in terms of assessment, as the belief now is that one day in testing
shouldnt reflect half of the in class work.

Sweden and Finland

Sweden, Finland and other countries in Europe have lowered the
emphasis on standardized testing, or have removed them from
education altogether.
The government believes that standardized testing puts stress on
the children, lowering their performance rates during exams and
lowering the overall averages of the country.
This new idea of testing, specifically in Finland comes from the
concept, Do whatever it takes, encouraging teachers to use any
educational means necessary to allow students to reach their
maximum potentials.

USA and Standardized Testing - The Big

Controversy

Standardized Testing In America

So, Lets Debate...

What, if any, value do you see in

standardized testing?
Do the potential benefits outweigh the
potential harm?

How might standardized tests be made

more accessible?
What are some of the things you would
change?

Would you remove the Diploma Exam or all

standardized testing? Why or Why Not?

Works Cited
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"Immigrant Languages in Canada." Census of Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Standardized Testing (HBO)." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Standardized Testing (HBO)." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Population by Sex and Age Group." Statistics Canada: Canada's National Statistical Agency / Statistique Canada : Organisme Statistique National Du Canada.
N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Standardized Test Definition." The Glossary of Education Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
Abbott, S. (2015, August 21). Standardized Test Definition - The Glossary of Education Reform. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/
Alberta Government. (2015). Diploma Examinations. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/admin/testing/diplomaexams.aspx
Alberta Government. (2015, August 8). Questions. Retrieved from
https://education.alberta.ca/media/15274054/q-a-for-diploma-exam-weighting-english-august-28-2015.pdf
Dykstra, M. (2015, March 16). Alberta Education. Retrieved from
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/03/16/alberta-education-changes-weight-of-diploma-exams-from-50-to-30-of-a-students-final-grade
Hancock, L. (2011, September). Why Are Finland's Schools Successful? Retrieved from
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-are-finlands-schools-successful-49859555/?no-ist
Kohn, A. (2000, September 27). Standardized Testing and It's Victims. Retrieved from http://math.buffalostate.edu/~med600/handouts/KohnTesting.pdf
ProCon.Org. (2015, March 4). Standardized Tests -. Retrieved from http://standardizedtests.procon.org/