Standardized testing has been around since the mid-19th century and is used to judge students in terms of college admissions, student achievement, and various other educational outlets. Over time, it is realized that standardized testing is an outdated, ineffective way to judge the intelligence of students.
Students are subjected to standardized testing in their early years of development. In grades 3-8, students are required to take Scantron tests. Once graduated from Scantron, students are then required to take the ACT or SAT to determine their level of intelligence.
Their results then determine graduation and academic financial help. The form of standardized tests reduces creativity and deters students from pursuing academics that they are interested in.
Peter Murrell, a psychology professor at MACT, explains the effects of this form of testing, “We should move beyond the narrow definition of scholastic aptitude inherent in standardized testing. The dominance of traditional testing in our schools has made it harder for us to help children become more aware of talents that can develop in areas in which they are likely to be satisfied and competent.”
Standardized testing focuses on four core academic areas: math, science, reading and English. Other students may have different strengths and weaknesses, and judging students based on those four skills does not reflect the true intelligence of students.
Standardized testing focuses solely on rote memorization. If a student can’t memorize well and scores poorly on the test, they are deemed “unintelligent.” Education expert Erioluwa Adeyinka writes, “This can stifle students’ creativity by discouraging them from exploring unconventional ideas or approaches.”
While standardized testing has been around for many years, it is not too late to change. Testing can be altered into a more accepting platform that focuses on increasing student’s creativity rather than squandering it. These can include portfolios, exhibitions, and other creative outlets. It is important for students to embrace their creativity and standardized testing inhibits them from doing so.
