Although they are not perfect tools to measure college success, standardized tests are high-stakes tests designed to remove bias and favoritism from scoring. They are an impartial look at individual students’ aptitudes and educational performance that allow colleges to predict some academic outcomes.
Keep reading to learn more about how standardized tests help determine future success for students in finding their place in society.
Definition of Standardized Tests
According to the Glossary of Education Reform, a test can be defined as a standardized test if it follows two primary criteria:
- The test must be formulated in such a way that all test takers answer the same questions (or a subset of questions that come from a shared bank of questions) in the same way;
- The test must be scored consistently so that performance comparisons can be drawn on individuals or demographics.
History of Standardized Tests
To explore the history of standardized tests and standardized testing requirements is to go back over 180 years. The first ideas about formally assessing a student’s progress and academic achievement came about in 1838 from American schools and educators.
Before and during the American Civil War between the Union and the Confederacy, written tests began to replace oral examinations. The achievement tests were given by individual teachers and schools, and even became mandated.
The standardized testing practices we think of today became widespread at the beginning of the 20th century, and the establishment of the College Entrance Examination Board in 1901 led to more comprehensive testing and high-quality education for the masses in the following decades.
The push for higher education for all was, unfortunately, tainted with racism at an early stage such that black students have experienced a century of discrimination in high-stakes standardized tests.
The first Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) as we know them today are administered in 1926, and quickly afterward sentiment toward standardized testing takes a downturn from its previously desired and approved methods.
Standardized testing saw the rise of computerization in 1935, drastically changing how quickly students could expect to receive their scores as well as lowering the cost of testing from $5 to $.50.
Despite research about the negative impacts of the overuse of standardized tests and dwindling support for how current standardized tests operated, the No Child Left Behind reform in 2001 meant that most students had examinations not only for college admission but after each year of grade school.
In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) passes. This reduces the number of standardized testing students experience and dismantles how testing impacted important decision-making processes.
The Coronavirus pandemic even forced the suspension of standardized testing in public education at the height of the pandemic.
How Standardized Tests Are Designed and Scored
A standardized test is the same for all test takers at the time of administration, but that doesn’t mean all standardized test scores are the same.
Generally, a standardized test contains a few multiple-choice tests designed to test your understanding and critical thinking abilities based on a select few subjects. These subjects tend to be literacy (reading and writing skills) and mathematics, although some tests will go further and test you on concepts of science.
More specialized standardized tests examine your knowledge of subjects surrounding particular career paths, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for entrance to medical schools.
Each test report scores slightly differently from the next. For example, the SAT has two sections – evidence-based reading and writing, and math tests. Student performance generates a raw score in both sections, which is converted to a scale score between 200-800 (400-1600 total score). This accounts for how tests can be easier or more difficult depending on the high school year they are taken.
The SAT used to have a penalty for answering a question wrong, which would negatively impact your score for guessing answers, but at the time of writing, there is no such deduction.
Standardized Tests in the United States
American students are no longer required to take standardized tests throughout mandatory American education to see if they are college-ready, except in just a few cases, but standardized tests continue to be a valuable tool for students to assess their academic progress.
Students between 3rd and 8th-grade inclusive face annual testing to determine their progress and grades in comparison to their peers. High school students partake in these types of tests in preparation for college education.
The tests are used to assess if public schools are in educational compliance with standards set out by the national education department.
An unintended consequence of high-stakes testing like these large-scale standardized tests is that sufficient school funding for education and resources can be correlated with higher test scores, and this might impact how curriculums are taught by teachers.
The most popular standardized tests
Standardized tests are a necessary part of the educational process, and students should be prepared for them. There are a variety of standardized tests available for students, and most of them are accepted by colleges and universities in the United States as part of the admissions process.
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
The SAT is the most popular standardized test among college-bound students. It is a three-hour multiple-choice exam that tests students’ reading, writing, and math skills. The Critical Reading section measures students’ ability to understand and analyze written passages. The Mathematics section measures students’ ability to solve mathematical problems. The Writing section measures students’ ability to write clearly and effectively.
According to the College Board, the SAT is going to receive a make-over in 2024 and will be held online. The digital SAT is already being tested around the country and allows students to use either their own tablet or laptop or the school’s devices. Furthermore, the SAT will only last two hours and students will find it to be easier to take and give and a lot more relevant.
The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Most colleges and universities in the United States recommend that applicants take the SAT as part of the admissions process.
ACT (American College Testing)
The ACT is a standardized test used to measure students’ academic abilities and skills. The ACT consists of four sections: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The test is administered on a computer and takes about three hours to complete.
Students who take the ACT are typically in their junior or senior year of high school.
AP (Advanced Placement) exams
The Advanced Placement (AP) exams are standardized tests administered by the College Board and consist of a variety of subjects, including English, mathematics, science, social studies, and world languages.
Students who take the AP exams are typically in their junior or senior year of high school. AP exams could lead to earning college credits if the student gets a 3, 4, or 5 in the final AP test.
PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test)
The PERT is a three-hour test that consists of three sections: English, mathematics, and reading. It is a placement test that determines which level of coursework a student is ready for.
The PERT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Some colleges and universities in the United States require or recommend that applicants take the PERT as part of the admissions process.
PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test)
The PSAT is a two-hour test that consists of two sections: Critical Reading and Mathematics. It is a practice test for the SAT often taken by juniors in high school. The Critical Reading section measures students’ ability to understand and analyze written passages. The Mathematics section measures students’ ability to solve mathematical problems.
11th-grade students who receive high PSAT scores can be nominated National Merit Scholar or get special recognition per ethnic group: Hispanic, African American, Native American, etc.
Other types of standardized tests
The above are just a few of the standardized tests available for students who want to follow the path of college. Students can also take various achievement tests, aptitude tests, and intelligence tests.
Achievement tests measure what a student knows and has learned in school. These tests usually focus on academic subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Aptitude tests measure a student’s ability to learn new material or perform certain tasks. Intelligence tests measure a student’s cognitive abilities and provide information about their intellectual potential.
Standardized tests are often used in conjunction with other assessment tools, such as teacher observations and student portfolios, to get a complete picture of a student’s abilities and progress.
While standardized tests can be useful in assessing students, they should not be the only factor considered when making decisions about a student’s education. Other things to consider include the student’s individual needs, interests, and abilities. The role of standardized tests in education should be carefully considered before making any decisions.
Conclusion
Standardized tests are used primarily to identify any achievement gaps in students’ capabilities and assess their academic readiness. College admissions officers are almost guaranteed to at least glance at the letter grade achieved on these tests, even for an online application.
Standardized tests have become an integral part of education across the globe and have been used extensively to ensure that all children are being raised to a similar degree, ideally without their extenuating socioeconomic status and other factors coming into play.
