Standardized Testing

Should Not be a
Graduation
Requirement
By Rachel Buck
NJ’s Graduation
Requirement
❖ NJ has required all students to pass their
standardized tests since at least 2016
❖ Students must demonstrate proficiency in
reading, writing, math and even science
(Clark, 2021)
As of 2021…
❖ The NJDOE approved a new test as a graduation requirement for 11th
graders (NJGPA)
❖ Failing students are allowed to retake in the following summer or fall
❖ This will go into affect for classes 2023-2025, excluding class of 2022
❖ Computer based test designed to meet 10th grade standards for:
❖English
❖Algebra 1
❖Geometry
(Clark, 2021)
(NJDOE, 2021)
What is
Standardized
Testing?
Definition: A standardized form of assessment to
evaluate students’ knowledge of material, typically of
reading, writing and math. Need to reach a standard
given by the state in order to “pass” (Wikipedia)
❖ Each state has different forms of testing for each
grade level
❖ Each state has different requirements for testing
❖ Each state has different procedures and preparations
for testing
NJ’s State
Testing
Procedures
As of class of 2022, NJDOE requires all high school students to
show proficiency in…
❖ ELA
❖ Math
Must be proven by these 3 standards:
❖ Shown when taking the NJ PARCC (ELA & Math)
❖ Shown through a student’s SAT or ACT score
❖ Shown through a student’s portfolio
(NJDOE, 2021)
Procedures
(cont.)
❖ NJ High Schools typically carry out the tests
(PARCC) via computer
❖ Sometimes, there may be a scantron included
❖ Math and ELA are split up between days
❖ Students are put into rooms by grade level
❖ A teacher or administrator is appointed to give out
the tests, time them, guide them etc.
❖ Takes between 2-3 days to fully complete
Who does this
affect?
Standardized Testing Affects:
❖ Students (elementary through high school)
❖ Teachers of every grade level
❖ Administration
❖ Parents

But the graduation requirement affects:

❖ High school students of every demographic
Effects on
Student’s Mental
Health
❖ Stress
❖ “Cortisol is a hormone the body produces under stress…students
on average have 15% more cortisol the morning of a test…”
❖ Anxiety
❖ Sleep deprivation
❖ Increases in depression
❖ Low scores causing decrease in self-esteem
(Koch, 2021)
Effects on
Students (cont.)
❖ Stress can affect a student’s performance on the test
❖ There is no adjustments for students with learning
disabilities
❖ Devaluing subjects like art, history etc.
❖ Contributes to the dropout rate (greater for cultural
minorities)
❖ Deprived of a well-rounded education
(American University, 2020)
(Pearson, 2021, Ch. 12)
Measuring Test
Anxiety (TA)
❖ Test anxiety has been negatively correlated with these types of tests
❖ Low achievement = TA & TA = low achievement

❖ One study showed that:

❖ Females are more prone to TA
❖ Women with higher GPA’s showed to have less test anxiety than those with
lower GPA’s
❖ Female undergrads showed more TA & higher GPAs than male undergrads
❖ The same results applied to female grad students & male grad students
(Gale, 2009, Evaluation (Test) Anxiety)
Measuring Test
Anxiety (cont.)
❖ One study showed that:
❖ TA is greater in minority students (African American
& Hispanic specifically)
❖ Negative stereotypes surrounding these groups
and test scores seems to be the correlation of
higher testing anxiety
❖ Going by this hypothesis, white males will have the
least amount of TA compared to females and
minorities
(Gale, 2009, Evaluation (Test) Anxiety)
Effects on
Teacher’s Mental
Health
❖ Stress from the pressures of trying to prepare students
❖ Feeling of frustration towards the amount of time dedicated to
preparing
❖ The pressure that high test scores = their worthiness of a teacher
❖ Anxiousness
❖ Teachers are offered little support
❖ Limits creativity and professionalism
(Pearson, 2021, Ch. 12)
(American University, 2020)
Why this is an
Issue/Critiques
❖ Standardized tests show little to no evidence of holding any value for
“college readiness”
❖ GPA’s have proven that they are a better way to measure “college
readiness”
❖ Cut-off scores limit the number of passing students
❖ Cheating on these tests has increased due to the pressure
❖Students in over 40 states have been documented to have cheated, and
adults have been found manipulating test scores
❖ Critics believe that these test scores should not determine a student’s
future (graduation, college etc.)
(Pearson, 2021, Ch. 12)
(Strauss, 2017)
Alternatives

❖ Performance Based Testing

❖Having a student perform a task for a specified outcome
❖ Journal Assessments
❖Can be a substitute for a portfolio
❖ Portfolio Assessments
❖A collection of a student’s academic work/achievements over the years
❖ Psychological assessments
❖Measuring a student’s readiness; their behaviors, attitudes and disabilities
Taking Away the Requirement

If we took away the requirement of passing standardized testing to graduate..

We would:
❖ Lower Stress levels
❖ Boost Self-esteem
❖ Have more students graduate
❖ Take pressure away from teachers
❖ Create more well-rounded students
Citations
Davidson, T., AM, & Bullard, E. C. (2016). Assessment. In D. S. Blanchfield (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Children’s
Health: Infancy through Adolescence (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 235-239).
Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3630900078/GVRL?u=ccmorris&sid=bookmark- GVRL&xid=677fc4db

Evaluation (Test) Anxiety. (2009). In E. M. Anderman & L. H. Anderman (Eds.), Psychology of Classroom Learning: An
Encyclopedia (Vol. 1, pp. 387-390). Macmillan Reference
USA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3027800111/GVRL?u=ccmorris&sid=bookmark- GVRL&xid=492b9399

Clark, Adam. (2021) N.J. Schools Will Require a New Graduation Test Starting this Spring, NJ.com: True Jersey

https://www.nj.com/education/2021/09/nj-schools-will-require-a-new-graduation-test-starting-this-spring.html

New Jersey Department of Education (2021) Assessment. State of New Jersey, Department of Education

https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/

State of New Jersey: Department of Education (2021) New Jersey High School Graduation Assessment Requirements (PDF)

NJDOE, https://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/docs/GradReq.pdf
Citations (cont.)
Koch, Mary, (2021). How Standardized Testing Affects Mental Health, The Plaid Line: Highland Park

Senior High School, https://hpshplaidline.org/2021/10/28/how-standardized-testing-affects-mental-health/

Strauss, Valerie, (2017). Why High School Exit Exams are a Waste of Time, The Washington Post: Democracy Dies

In Darkness, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/04/18/why-high-school-exit-exams-are-a-waste-of-time/

Effects of Standardized Testing on Students & Teachers: Key Benefits and Challenges, (2020). American School of Education,

American University: Washington D.C., https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/effects-of-standardized-testing

Don Kauchak & Paul Eggen (2021). Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Pearson, Ch. 12.

https://plus.pearson.com/courses/6713375/products/4G9VYZMWJX/pages/a281e2c212b079593b065577d026305f047697a3f?locale=&key=704827615
16372797110302021&iesCode=ESnRMYRIB4