Assessment

SAT scores have traditionally been used as more than simply a means for getting into college; they are also an effective benchmark to determine college readiness among high school students today. Unfortunately, a steady decline in SAT scores over a number of decades has some worried that the next generation to enter college and the workforce will not be as well prepared as previous generations. As these numbers get a closer look by educators and politicians across the country, many are voicing concern that the United States’ place in the global marketplace may be at stake as well. What is the reason for the decline?

How the Benchmark Works

A recent report by College Board shows that only 43 percent of high school seniors met SAT college and career readiness benchmarks this year. This benchmark offers insight into the level of academic readiness exhibited by high school seniors, which typically translates to their level of success in a college environment. The benchmark was developed by educators and policymakers interested in finding the best ways to prepare students for higher education at the secondary level.

The Washington Post explains the significance of the SAT benchmark and how the numbers shake out. The benchmark combines scores in reading, writing, and mathematics, with a possible cumulative score of 1550 out of a total of 2400 points possible. Students who achieve the benchmark are thought to have a 65 percent likelihood of earning an average grade

Standardized testing has become a widely adopted approach to measure student progress and performance – and based upon some of President Obama’s proposals, more tests may be on the horizon for your child. In fact, the federal initiative No Child Left Behind even made standardized testing mandatory for all public schools.

While standardized testing may be one way to effectively measure student learning, many educators argue that students spend far too much time in school simply learning how to take tests. As a result, students and teachers lose out on more valuable lessons and complex instructional activities. Ultimately, leaders are looking ahead to see whether or not students will be forced to endure even more hours of rigorous testing.

Former School Testing Policies

Former President George W. Bush initially created his No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act in order to ensure that all public schools were effectively educating its students. As a result of NCLB, every public school was required to give their students specific subject area tests.

If students failed these tests, their school was put on an action plan and potentially lost some of its funding. On the other hand, if students passed these tests, their school was often financially rewarded with increased funding. While on the surface level, it appears as though NCLB would help reward successful schools, many experts argue that it has only severely punished kids who are in schools with lower budgets, less supplies, and larger class sizes.

After hours of cramming, attending test prep courses, and enduring long hours of practice exams, students do have to wonder: how much do standardized test scores really matter?

Some experts argue that standardized test scores are not an accurate measure of a student’s intelligence, while others assert that these scores help to more accurately gauge a student’s abilities. With this raging debate, recent studies are revealing the true influence of standardized test scores on a high school student’s college application and acceptance.

Why Take Standardized Tests?

With a rising number of students applying to both community colleges and universities, most schools are now requiring that all applicants complete standardized tests. The most popular standardized tests include assessments such as the SAT or the ACT. In fact, according to Scholastic, American students today are among the most tested students in the world! Studies show that students, all combined, in the United States take nearly 100 million tests each year.

With the excessive testing forced upon American children and teens, many are led to the question: what’s the point? As Scholastic further explains, there is an array of reasons and purposes for these tests. Specifically, standardized tests are “Viewed as a measure of teacher and school competence and, in some cases, can affect a child's future placement in a school.”

Some tests are solely designed to ensure that all students are meeting