Standardized Testing Essay

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Standardized testing Preface Standardized tests are tests that are administered to evaluate the extent and effects of learning and achievement within our society. They are predominantly used to gauge the performance of students in different schools, districts, within and outside the country. These types of tests hold different criterions and have different purposes associated with them. All of us at some point in our lives are exposed to some tests, either to gauge whether we are ready to move to the next class (advance placement tests), or perhaps the first tests we take known as school readiness test. Standardized tests are defined as uniform procedures for administration and scoring and they often allow a students performance to be compared with the performance of other students at the same age or grade level on a national basis. (Santrock, 532). They also offer equal opportunity to compare all examination candidates at an equal level and measure their performance. Standardized tests also seek to attempt to include material that is common or uniform across most classrooms. In Kenya, the most acknowledged type of standardized tests is the Kenya certificate of primary education (K.C.P.E) exam and the Kenya certificate of secondary education (K.C.S.E) exam. These are standardized tests offered by the Kenya national examination council that are given to both primary and secondary school students all over Kenya and they are common to all students at that level. Many controversies and arguments surround the issue of the types, purpose and effects of administering standardized tests to students, individuals and institutions. It is quite a heated argument with many supporting and many being against them. Despite all the arguments that are there we must agree that tests are way through which people are able to gauge and evaluate
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