"Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing." Exams take a toll on a students body and mind through the forms of stress and anxiety and you might end up in a mental institution. That leads to the second argument. Thats better information than weve ever received from standardized testing. A second argument sometimes offered against exams is that everything can be found on Google anyway. Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair. Many people say standardized testing provides an accurate measurement of student performance and teacher effectiveness. If this is in place, then the grade will show the actual intelligence of the student instead of the memorization of the student. 7356. A $60K Starting Salary for Teachers? Anyone who knows me, would be shocked that I am saying this but I am not seeing a bad side to privatizing education. Suicide cases due to inability to cope with exams pressure are rising to an average of 140 per year (Bentham, 2000). A student could be very intelligent and a hard worker, but they might be bad at taking tests. Another reason is when the student knows that his hard work has paid off, he will feel a self satisfaction inside of him and he will be so proud of himself. Just as practice helps muscles grow stronger during exercise, so too does it make connections in the brain grow stronger during study. The major criticisms of exams in schools and universities tend to relate to either the misuse or overuse of exams, and not to the sensible use of exams in partnership with other assessment tasks such as presentations, research reports, creative responses, essays, reflective journals etc. Suggestions. Without the exams, the teachers cannot assess the true ability of a student and that is why exams are important. But standardized tests don't allow personal factors to be taken into consideration. They are more likely to find and believe conspiracy theories, for example, less likely to know what search terms to use, and less likely to reason logically about the information they find. Search results. The exams may be multiple-choice, matching, short answer, essay, etc., but even if there are multiple versions of the exam, all students basically do the same thing in the same way. Writer-marian did a very good job with my paper, she got straight to the point, she made it clear and organized . These. They argue that: It's accountable. Saucier, D. A., Schiffer, A. It can't measure true progress. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. "Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing." Why do proteins have specific shapes and what causes that? Opponents of standardized testing say educators have become too fixated on scores and preparing for these exams. Ashley A. Schiffer is also a doctoral student in the department of psychological sciences at Kansas State University. Modern school examinations have been around for more than a century, most of people have taken them for years, they have passed through long hours and sleepless nights of preparation and memorizing, sometimes exams helped students to pass to the next level but most of times they hindered them and one thing is sure, exams were never a tool to acquire knowledge and can never define someones intelligence or capabilities; setting a tree climbing assessment task to test the intelligence of a fish is just as inappropriate as setting a logical-mathematical assessment task to test the intelligence of a person gifted with interpersonal or with linguistic intelligence. This approach provides schools with data to develop targeted programs and services for improving student performance. Exams do not just assess learning, they promote learning in several ways: Organising yourself to study promotes self-regulation and metacognition . For evaluating an individuals skills and intelligence, various types of examinations are conducted worldwide. It's quality control and expecting the most from both student and educators. It's objective. Where oral communication skills are important, a presentation task may be more appropriate. Urge Texas A&M to Stop Funding Cruel Experiments on Dogs 2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Exams: Examinations are tests that aim to determine the ability and strength of a student. Everybody is a genius. Moreover, students will also get to acquire valuable skills through regular . (in press). https://community.acue.org/blog/having-the-time-of-my-life-the-trickle-down-model-of-self-and-student-engagement/, Saucier, D. A. For some instructors, exams may still be necessary. 13 Reasons Why Homework Should Not Be Banned 1. Why are UPSR and PMR examinations should be abolished? For example, our students effectively employ reading strategies to comprehend a text, but are often stymied by a lack of vocabulary or complex syntax. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Exams produce the incentive to make students look back over what they have already incorporated in order to verify that they really understand it. Rethinking the way in which some exams are delivered does not require us to abandon all exams in favour of other assessment tasks. They arent as good when the universe of data is broadened. The first is radical: These tests are not necessary . When our students tell us about the most meaningful things they did in our classes, they do not talk about exams (nor do we when looking back at our experiences as students). Research also shows that spacing out study over time is more effective for retaining information than cramming the night before. Standardized tests are unnecessary because they rarely show what we dont already know. However, it is a big part of the school that all students have to go through. Locally publish a compilation of evaluation reports. In both cases, the teacher has less opportunity to review whether or not the questions require deep understanding and higher-order thinking, which require the learner to both hold a strong body of disciplinary knowledge and be capable of applying it. In all honesty we shouldnt have exams since they barely help us out in our adulthoods and they leave us drained after a hard year of school work, roxian Apr 14, 2022 at 10:22 am, jill leidenheim Mar 21, 2021 at 11:56 pm, Yes sirree, toats true homie. They favor people who are gifted or have good memory and good exam techniques, and neglect the less able students who actually need the most help. This is mostly because these scores become public record, and teachers and schools that dont perform up to par can come under intense examination. Another option would be to have your students write and take their own exams (i.e., Exams By You; Saucier, Schiffer, & Jones, under review). Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/should-exams-be-abolished-or-not-essay. Rovai, A. P. (2000). I for one want to find a safety in school, not a prison. It may be stigmatizing for those students to be unable to take the exam with their classmates and they may feel their absences are conspicuous (e.g., Timmerman & Mulvihill, 2015). Advantages and Disadvantages of Lecturing, M.Ed., Educational Administration, Northeastern State University, B.Ed., Elementary Education, Oklahoma State University. Using open-book exams to enhance student learning, performance, and motivation. Chinas One-Child Policy: Should It Be Abolished. They have become more and more stressful and, even worse, a constriction to the ideal of learning. Saucier, D. A. Meador, Derrick. With public and charter schools both competing for the same public funds, politicians and educators have come to rely even more on standardized test scores. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In addition, teachers may grade student papers differently. Traditionally, students come to class and take exams silently and independently without any resources. The exams are often high stakes, making students anxious about the outcome. For example, students need good grades to get progress levels and to get into university, so student must study hard for that. At my high school a group of us is trying to eliminate 2nd semester finals for the senior class. Thank you for sharing these points and we will keep these in mind as we present the ideas to our administrative council. It will motivate and keep students on their toes. Accommodations in the college setting: The perspectives of students living with disabilities. Parsons, D. (2008). There are no rankings, no comparisons or competition between students, schools or regions and yet, Finlands schools are for years now, the most successful in the entire world. So trust the teacher. Within this program, exams have specific advantages. MTSS is a powerful framework for supporting student success, but implementation can be challenging. Im currently stressing out for finals, and we dont even get paid at school for mental instability, stress, and anxiety. There are many arguments stating capital punishment should be abolished for many reasons, including that capital punishment violates the Bill of Rights, and life in prison is a more effective deterrent than capital punishment; there are also counter-arguments, saying that capital 1021 Words 5 Pages Decent Essays Heres Why We Dont Need Standardized Tests, Why 10th Grade Should Be the New Senior Year, For State Leadership, the Common Core Is a Boon, Creating Informed Citizens Should Be Education's Goal. It is a well known fact that when it comes to exams, students compete, not only with themselves, but with other students. and then Add to Home Screen. We fear traditional in-class exams may take the meaning out of the wonderful things we teach and learn and our classes. While we support challenging our students, we believe this type of stress may not be directly helpful. Meador, Derrick. Students already have to take a number of standardized tests and AP exams that prove whether or not they know the material. (2021). Exam should be abolished because it is mentally and physically threatening the students, exam have caused a lot of suicide case among students and it makes students stressed out and have low confidence in themselves, exam is just a test of memorizing and it does not define any of the students. The physical act of passing out exams, particularly if there is more than one form of the exam, is difficult and time-consuming. Heres what the research tells us about three of the most common exam myths: One of the most common arguments offered against exams is that they test for rote recall only and not for deeper understanding. Students have come to believe that their GPA and test scores are the ultimate reflection of their self-worth, writes a college senior. Engage the sage: The empathetic course design perspective [Video]. ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/examining-the-pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing-3194596. Copyright 2023 WisdomAnswer | All rights reserved. Timmerman, L. C., & Mulvihill, T. M. (2015). We shouldnt take these exams just prove that we have knowledge . https://www.thoughtco.com/examining-the-pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing-3194596 (accessed March 4, 2023). ThoughtCo. They are mediocre at analysis, counter-arguments, rebuttals, and evaluation of sources, though they have recently gotten better at evaluating sources as we have improved our instruction and formative assessments. His awards and honors include the University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Teaching Resource Prize. What are the Pros and Cons of Charter Schools? Exams do not just assess learning, they promote learning in several ways: Organising yourself to study promotes self-regulation and metacognition (that is, your understanding and control of your own learning processes). Because exams are stressful and they do not show real results of the students hard work and mental ability. Create a free account to save your favorite articles, follow important topics, sign up for email newsletters, and more. Should Exams be Abolished or Not?. Damian Lind Dec 17, 2018 at 9:06 am, bob duncan Jun 11, 2018 at 1:25 pm, i hate school thisdt is boring get me out pls n thx, 6 reasons why we shouldnt have final exams, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9317, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9291, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9287, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9284, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9283, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9350, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9277, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9270, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9253, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9251, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9248, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9192, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9184, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9149, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9122, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9118, https://hhsmedia.com/18850/opinion/6-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-have-final-exams/#comment-9101. LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and (except on the iOS app) to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Having the time of my life: The trickle-down model of self and student engagement. We have a long way to go, but we can understand the value of our efforts and see improvement in student work. A., & Jones, T. L. (under review). Whats the point of them if we cant even learn something from them? The problem indeed isn't easy as it seems .. @Joshua Atkinson, very interesting points you outlined here and yes, everybody is part of the problem, students, parents, society, and teachers are no exception but I believe the main problem in the educational system is exams, or lets say exams as we know them. They cant just magically learn a years-worth of material in one week. Therefore, I do not think it is fair for him. Even if we didnt get paid for school, money doesnt solve all problems. underpins critical thinking and problem solving. So, those people who say that exams should not be abolished think of exams as a self test to see where the students are, and how good they do. Exams take a toll on a student's body and mind through the forms of stress and . The data generated by testing can be organized according to established criteria or factors, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and special needs. The Harrisonburg High School exam schedule. Multiple-choice questions, true-false questions, short-answer questions, essay questions, and the like are some samples of standardized tests. Simply put, the ways that we traditionally administer in-class exams may not be fair for everyone. Schools implement standardized testing because of some major reasons such as: (1) it is objective and not biased; (2) and according to them, it accurately assesses the student's academic skills; (3) it . 2338 kb/s. ET. Let us allow our students to demonstrate their learning in ways that are less anxiety-provoking, more equitable and inclusive, less difficult to administer, more empathetic, and more fun. Exams given in class are stressful for students (e.g., Zeidner, 2010) and instructors (Madara & Namango, 2016). 3 reasons grades are bad for education THNK School. A well-designed exam will assess the application of knowledge to real-world scenarios, the synthesis of knowledge across sub-topics, the ability to think critically, or to solve well-defined problems within a discipline. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Third, we look together at student work. A student could be very intelligent and a hard worker, but they might be bad at taking tests. However, we wish to address the limitations of doing so and offer five reasons to consider to stop giving exams in class. But we need to look at what the evidence tells us about when exams are effective and when other types of assessment are more suitable. YouTube. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(30), 70-86. Traditionally, students come to class and take exams silently and independently without any resources. Dont waste Your Time Searching For a Sample, Speech on Capital Punishment Should Not Be Abolished, Public Examination Should Not Be Abolished, Should Public Examinations in Malaysia be Abolished, Should Parole Release be Abolished by Law. Your email address will not be published. Exams can energise us, providing motivation to learn things we would otherwise keep putting off. It's the age-old dilemma: some people don't perform well in high pressure environments, such as exams. Kumar, S., & Jagacinski, C. M. (2006). ET. One of its main advantages being that it boosts mutual interactions between teachers, parents, and students. Durning, S. J., Dong, T., Ratcliffe, T., Schuwirth, L., Artino, A. R., Boulet, J. R., & Eva, K. (2016). (The state gives seven standardizedend-of-instruction (EOI) exams in Algebra I, Algebra II, English II, English III, Biology I, geometry and U.S. history. Some opponents of testing argue that low-performing schools are unfairly targeted by politicians who use academic performance as an excuse to further their own agendas. Even if standardized testing were not only desirable to give the public a picture of basic competencies, but also an efficient way to do so, the costs have been too great. Would you rather have money or have mental stability. A version of this article appeared in the July 10, 2014 edition of Education Week as We Dont Need Standardized Tests. Only the rich get educated? Being able to accurately analyze data is a primary reason that many states have adopted the Common Core state standards. Re-organising and elaborating on the to-be-tested material during study enables deeper understanding of the material. Why should examination be abolished? One of the best ways to learn is to learn from ones mistakes, and final exams prohibit that. This button displays the currently selected search type. Somatic symptoms evoked by exam stress in university students: the role of alexithymia, neuroticism, anxiety and depression. (2019a). Why exams should be banned? Noah also works in the Teaching and Learning Center at Kansas State University, where he collaborates with Saucier on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) projects. Because exams are stressful and they do not show real results of the student's hard work and mental ability. The importance of examinations is so eminent that most students are nervous about them.