Standardized Tests As Standards Of Performance

In the field of education, certification and counseling; it is important to measure the student’s expression of knowledge, academic performance, development of skills and techniques. Do you remember the entire weekly, monthly and annual tests in your school days? You may have wondered that what kind of process is this? Well, testing is done to achieve some goals targeted towards your future benefits. To achieve these targets the education system has developed the method of ‘testing’. A test or an assessment of a student gives complete information about his or her level and ability to grow in future.

The process of testing is determined by definite structure to assess your performance. Time management, mental ability, expression, thought process, comprehensibility and skill are some of the broad areas that you are tested for. You may be self-evaluating but there is a requirement to show your abilities to different institution so that you are recognized in a social and economic space. There are different types of assessment process to test various academic and non-academic elements that you posses.

‘Written test’ is the most popular form of assessment practiced all across all the nations. It is a comprehensive method because students are free to exercise all their skills and expression with comfort and ease. You will receive question papers (objective or subjective or both) and you are supposed to complete the paper within a given time limit. There has been a debate regarding the issue of time limit in testing because every student has a different intellectual level. Therefore an average time limit is set for the completion of answers. The level of your performance will be determined by the grades or marks awarded to you..

Practical test is another form of assessment where ‘demonstration’ and ‘skills’ play important role. Knowledge of a student is completely exposed under this method. To know more about your communication skills Group discussions and personal tests are organized. These days there are a lot of ‘mock’ tests organized by the organizations before the final examination. It has emerged as an effective measure because you will be able to get a sense of the questions asked and work on time management. By providing similar test conditions, there is an attempt to reduce stress and nervousness amongst students

A standardized test is a more advanced version of testing that is based on the concept of comparing your performance with a ‘standard performance’. That standard performance is established by the authorities keeping the course structure, nature of students (age group and abilities). It involves a lot of statistical analysis so that you do not find the targets unfair or unachievable. You would be surprised to know that standardized test acquires a more global identity as it is widely used for certification and entrance examinations. It is regarded by the experts as a device to measure your knowledge and aptitude. There is a specific correct answer for every question and you are supposed to determine that correct answer or answer close to the standard answer. Arguments regarding the ‘standard answer’ are not entertained and it is in the hands of the authorities to change and cancel the answers as per requirements.

Standardized test have received a lot of criticism in the schools and a popular criticism is that they encourage teachers to ‘teach the tests’. SAT and ACT examinations are some of the main examinations based on Standardized test scores.