Testing for Intelligence

As a Georgia high school graduate, I am all too familiar with standardized test and their “achievement & knowledge” measurement. At the beginning of your junior year, students take the written portion of the required Georgia High School Graduation Test, followed by math, science, and social studies later that year. This test was very controversial because there were students who were at the very top of the class who could not pass the test, which caused them to receive a “Certificate of Completion” instead of an actually diploma at their graduation. Thankfully, I passed all four parts the first time. However, this experience has led me to believe that many standardized test measure more of what a student can remember opposed to their academic achievement. Also as a former child care provider I have witnessed 3^rd graders come to the center completely stressed due to the End of Grade testing. There has been a major emphasis placed on passing this test that some children become increasingly overwhelmed and nervous and freeze up during the test. Its not that they do not know the material, but their nerves may have gotten the best of them.

A December 2010 New York Times article discussed the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). More than 5,100 students in Shanghai were selected to participate in the initial test. This test was designed by a group from Paris. Not only did students from Shanghai participate but Korea, Singapore, US, and Germany as well. The PISA featured Science, Math, and English categories.

When searching the internet, I came across a site that listed some pros and cons of standardized testing. From the pro point of view these test are highly accurate and reliable. From the con point of view this test are said to only measure what a student can remember and limits the range of topics that teachers can teach, because they mainly cover topics that are required. Children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia may score poorly on these test, which will not accurately or fairly measure their academic performance.

Top test scores from shanghai stun educators. December 7, 2010. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/education/07education.html

Pros and cons of standardized test. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing.html