Every class has tests, but none of them are as tedious as the Measure of Academic Progress, more commonly known as the MAP. As the name suggests, the MAP test measures students’ progress throughout the year. There are typically two tests per year, one in the fall and one in the spring. In some classes, there is an additional test in the winter. At the end of the school year, the latest test scores are compared to the fall scores. This comparison is what tells teachers how much their students have improved and what knowledge they have retained over the course of the year.
The MAP test has been used since the year 2000 to record the progress of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, but many other standardized tests have been around much longer. Considering its age, the MAP could very well be outdated. This being said, it may be time to develop a better method of evaluating academic growth in students. A well-known English Language Arts teacher, Mrs Nottingham, had this to say on the topic: “I think the problem with any standardized testing is that some students don’t test well. We should also have more holistic methods of evaluation. Relying only on standardized testing is a flawed approach.”
Due to the wide variety of learning styles, it is impossible to accurately evaluate every student with one standardized test. There are plenty of possible alternatives to testing, such as portfolios of work, presentations, or projects. Standardized testing can evaluate retention of knowledge, but it can not gauge how well students can apply that knowledge in the real world. Most schools in the United States have a goal of getting as much knowledge into students’ brains as possible in an 18-week semester, but very few classes teach those students how to apply that knowledge in their everyday lives. Most evaluations focus on subjects like Math or English, neglecting the creativity and critical thinking skills that are equally important to a growing brain.
One of the biggest flaws of standardized testing is the anxiety it can cause in students. No matter how many methods of stress relief are provided to test-takers, some people are more prone to anxiety than others. Even with months of preparation for standardized tests, heightened levels of stress can bring grades down by extreme amounts. This stress can also affect the learning environment as a whole. The human brain associates stress with places; for example, a child may not want to go back to the dentist after getting a cavity filled. That being said, experiencing high levels of anxiety in a school environment can cause distress for seemingly no reason when a student is exposed to the same environment.
Another problem with standardized testing is the shift of focus. Instead of spending class time teaching students new material, teachers will spend weeks or even months changing their curriculum in order to prepare students for testing. The time leading up to test dates is most commonly used to review old topics and memorize facts. It is well known that one of the most difficult ways to learn is memorization, but standardized tests require just that.
Standardized tests are clearly not the most effective method of evaluation. A test that causes anxiety in students, encourages a narrow method of thinking, and disrupts class schedules is clearly a problem. Although these tests have been used for nearly 2,000 years, change is needed to help both teachers and students get the most out of their schools.
