Why Standardized Test

WHY?

Standardized tests are just what the name implies tests that measure all students by a single standard. Colleges like them because they provide a way to compare the ability of students from all over the country. High schools may have vastly different grading standards. A high grade point average and superior recommendations from one school might be evaluated very differently in another one. While average students may be given an A at Heavenly High, such students at Hard Knocks Central may be lucky to get a Bor a C. Colleges realize these differences exist, and national scores are one way to work around them.

Over the years national standardized tests have generated a great deal of controversy. Critics have claimed that they are unfair to minority and blue-collar students, and have challenged their validity in predicting a student’s success, either in college or after graduation.

In recent years much of that controversy has died down. Education professionals generally agree that standardized test scores do not predict success in later life. However. there does seem to be some relationship between test scores and college grades, especially first year grades. Most colleges use the scores as one indication of a student’s abilities but only as one among many indicators. High school grades and curriculum carry much more weight in the admissions decision making process at most colleges. And the “intangibles” personality, dedication, creativity, initiative count as well.

WHAT STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT

Standardized tests are one way of predicting how a student might do in a given college. Each student’s scores an compared with a pool of other students’ scores from across the country. Students can then be ranked on a national level. In all the concern with doing well on these tests, it easy to forget what tl;e tests are not:. Standardized tests are not a measure of intelligence

They are not IQ tests. The SAT and ACT test verbal and math ability. The achievement tests measure how much students know about a given subject These tests do not totally measure how intelligent you are, how well you learn, or how well you will de in your lift: after college. Colleges know this where evaluating your scores during the admissions process. Standardized tests are not infallible. The SAT, for example, has an error range of 30 points. That means that the student who scores 550 might just as well. have scored 520 or 580 if he or she had taken the tea at another time. In addition, many other factors car affect your performance on a test your level of anxiety, the kind of week you had, even what you ate for breakfast. It is important to relax and to prepare yourself mentally for these tests. Standardized tests have not out of your control. Three are many ways that you can prepare. Just becoming familiar with the format can make a difference of 2(points or more. Studies have shown that SAT score tend to rise automatically 3 points for every month that a student stays in school. That means that ii you take the SAT spring term junior year, and there take it again fall term senior year, your score has i good chance of increasing by 20 or 30 points. In ad dition, there are many ways you can prepare for the test material itself. II you happen to do well on taking standardized tests great you are ahead of the game. And if you do not, re member it is not the end of the world. There are things you can do to improve your score. So relax. Standardized tests are important, but, again, please remember they are only one part of your college admissions profile.