Standardized Testing

This is my article about standardized testing. I'm still learning to write in English. Apologize if there's so many wrong grammar. If you would like to correct it, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much for your attention :). 

Every country has a standardized testing in their education curriculum. For instance, primary schools in Singapore have standardized testing that well known as PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination). In America it is well known with NAEP (National Assessment of Individual Progress). Indonesia also has a standardized testing that well known as UN (Ujian Negara = National Examination). Why every country has standardized testing? Because is an easy way to test large number of students in a time. Also it is an easy way to get to know about ability for each student in main subject.

With the standardized testing, government will know about the quality of school from the result.  It because standardized test is designed to enable us to compare performance of students in relatively efficient way (Koretz, 2008). Is It effective way, right? But the other hand there’s a lot of disadvantages from standardized testing. First, it just measures the subject that people think is valuable to learn, like math, physic, etc. Of course there are good for students who have talents at that subject, but how about students who have art talent, sports talent, etc?

                Second, the original purpose from testing is to allow knowing about what you need to do differently or better.  So we can figure it out what they do well and what they don’t do well. Then we can push their doing something better. But now standardized testing is like a big problem for student even teacher. It is not only about you already pass the requirements or not, but it also relates with the pride and the self esteem if you can pass it or not (and this is happened in my country).

                Because of two disadvantages, our school view seems like fast food restaurant. School only focuses on the way for all of students can pass the standardized testing. Then what will happen? The students are forced to study some subjects, even their talents or passion not at there. Students must pass the standardized requirements, if they fail, they will not success in “competition”.

                While, necessary school facilitates the students to grow up their talents. It is like agricultural view according to Sir Ken Robinson. Then with testing, teacher or school will know they do well or not.  So that we just do some testing only for make a map to know what the best way to facilitate students.