Why Make Standardized Tests so Stressful?

One of the topics we talked about in class this week was how some students do very poorly on standardized tests because they get stressed out. Concerned teachers, parents, and students feel like the solution to this problem is to just eliminate standardized tests all together. However, I feel like there is a better solution to this because I think standardized testing is important. Without standardized testings, we have no way of figuring out at what level our students are being taught. We need some way to check the status of our school's performance and in what areas we need to improve upon. By knowing if the curriculum is too easy or too challenging, we can make the necessary adjustments to better educate the students.

I'm not saying standardized tests are perfect though either. I found an article that gave four acceptable solutions, teacher.scholastic.com/professional/assessment/take_out_pencils.htm. 1) Create a positive environment. Instead of pressuring the children to do well on these tests, maybe we should lessen the importance of these tests. I think children get stressed out because they feel like they have a lot riding on these tests which causes them to feel anxious and sometimes cheat.

2) Replace dread with anticipation. I like the idea of providing some kind of reward after taking a long, tedious test. This gives students something to look forward to and also encourages them. 3) Practice time management. A lot of students feel rushed when they are being timed, but with a little but of practice, they should feel less nervous about it. Finally, 4) involve parents. By letting parents know ahead of time about the tests, it will help them better prepare themselves, as well as their children, for it.