Typically, standardized tests are considered to be a formal summative assessment. They are summative because they are testing the students' ability to understand and retain all of the information from a particular instruction period. Usually, standardized tests are given in February or March; this means that the students have an entire semester of material that they have learned that year and all of this is fair game on these tests. This requires the students to be able to remember what they have already learned in the previous months of that year. These tests can be considered formal because they are given on a specific day with specific instructions as to how to administer them (the words to use, setting of test, etc.). This makes it formal because essentially every student taking the test is taking it under the same conditions.
Standardized tests can be reliable but not valid. If the scores on the test are consistent, this test can be considered reliable. If the test does not accurately measure what the intended reason for the test is though, then it is not valid. Also, tests that target one group of people and neglect the rest have poor validity. For example, if a test talks about a topic that can only be seen in affluent communities, then tests that are administered to lower socioeconomic communities might not do as well simply because they didn't understand the question.
Standardized tests are, in fact, not standardized. Many times, schools in wealthier areas that have many resources for their students receive the higher scores while lower income schools don't do well. This could simply be because they don't have the resources or motivation to learn the material as well as the wealthier schools do. Standardized tests are also written for students who do not have any learning disabilities. This can hurt a student who does have a learning disability because they might not have enough time to complete the test. Students of other cultures might also have difficulties completing standardized tests due to a language barrier
I agree with your viewpoint on standardized tests. I think that money does play a role in the outcome of scores. Lower income schools usually do not have the resources capable of teaching their students as well as wealthier students can teach theirs.
ReplyDeleteThere is correlation between test scores and the wealth of schools. What kinds of resources can be purchased to improve scores? What can schools with less funds do to ensure they don't fall behind?
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