Standardized Testing by Yvette

Standardized Testing by Yvette - June 2015 Scholarship Essay

Most people I know do not enjoy assessments of any kind. They groan aloud when the professor reminds them of an upcoming quiz or midterm. They do not like multiple choice tests, essay questions, mathematical problems, or even job interviews. There is something about ones skills or knowledge being assessed by another person that makes most people anxious and stressed.

However, I do not feel this way about essay assignments. Whether they be take home or in-class, essays are my preferable way to have my knowledge and skills tested. I have had some job interviews that ask me to write a short essay about why I feel I am best qualified for the position I am applying for. Even this essay contest for a scholarship prize is right up my alley. I enjoy typing out my ideas and arguments on a topic, perhaps due to the fact that it is the best medium for self-expression.

Of course, not everyone would agree with me, because not everyone thinks they are good writers, or that writing is the most efficient way to express themselves. That is the problem with current forms of assessment, and the education system as a whole: it is the majority belief that everyone can be tested the same way and be taught the same way. However, this is not the reality.

Standardized education, and subsequently standardized testing, cause many problems for those who do not "measure up" to the standards laid down by people who believe intelligence is something that can be measured by how well a person remembers something. By testing how satisfactorily humans can meet the "norm", these types of assessments force people to conform to how a functioning human ought to be. While assessments are important for the retention of information, forms of assessment such as multiple choice and even essays may not best serve some individuals who require a different way to be tested, as well as a different way to be taught. While I prefer essay assessments to other forms, I would argue that non-standardized tests are my favorite type of assessment.