The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

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Pages: 7

Creativity from even the most clever students can be lost during the process of taking these Standardized Test. My experience of when I noticed creativity during standardized testing was prohibited was when I first took the ACT test during my Junior year at, Central High School, a small high school in Saint Joseph, Missouri, I knew from taking previous ACT test, and writing certain essays throughout my high school career, I would love the writing portion in the test booklet. I had a plan that, in order to receive a high score on the writing part, I would add a little piece of me in the essay. But, sadly as I finished the reading part, and began to start the writing part of my ACT, I couldn’t believe my eyes… the question asked was lifeless, and boring. I soon found out that teachers wouldn’t be reading over my lovely essay, and it would only be based on how …show more content…
I had to just be the average Junior and answer the essay question without being creative, to me this was like answering a math question without showing your work and how you came to that solution. Alternatively, Daniel McGinn, in the article, “The Big Score” states that, “These kids say real learning is being shoved aside as teachers focus on boosting test scores. Creative writing? Forget it. Instead, they say, teachers emphasize a boilerplate essay format that exam scorers prefer.” (261). Likewise McGinn agrees with Kohn and he feels the same way about creativity being not an option at all on Standardized tests. McGinn quotes author, Alfie Kohn, “Every hour that teachers feel compelled to try to raise test scores is an hour not spent helping kids become critical, creative, curious thinkers.” (262). I agree with both Kohn’s and McGinn’s statements. Exam after exam are taken and I must say the number two pencil has more creavity than any of the answers students have to pick from in the whole ACT test booklet. Students tend to get bored, attempt to fall asleep, or even rush through tests just to get it over