Quick Study: Standardized Tests (page 2 of 2)

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The typical student takes more than two dozen standaridzed tests by graduation.
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In 690 in China, first female emperor Wu Zetian uses uniform tests—including one to assess poetry-writing skills—to screen government workers.
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In 1934, Harvard uses SAT to award scholarships to students of modest means.
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In 1941, College Board decides essay tests are too cumbersome to grade during wartime.
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In 1956, First Advanced Placement exam was created.
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Wu Zetian
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In 690 in China, first female emperor Wu Zetian uses uniform tests—including one to assess poetry-writing skills—to screen government workers.
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Forward Thinking
  • New tests - Thomas Toch, codirector of Education Sector, a Washington, D.C., think tank, says that standardized tests can be designed to match the range of elementary school subjects, include more writing and less multiple choice, and employ "higher order" skills like creativity and problem solving. One recent improvement is the addition of three NCLB-related science tests for select grade levels.
  • Choices, choices - Schools like Holy Cross, Wake Forest, and Smith now let applicants decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores at all-with no penalty if they don't. Thanks to a new College Board policy, colleges can also choose to let students submit only their top scores for each SAT section when students take (and parents pay for) the test multiple times.
  • Who's ready to study? - Many colleges are giving more weight to content-driven AP and SAT subject tests. Also gaining favor: International Baccalaureate diplomas, now earned at 634 U.S. schools that pay to adopt the Geneva-based program's standardized curriculum and rigorous exams. "Strong students with AP or IB courses know how to work and manage their time. They come here and do well," says Holy Cross admissions director Ann McDermott.
    The Back-and-Forth
    "People like to use test scores to label students because it's easy and fast. But a student is so much more than a test score."
    --Dennis Van Roekel, president, National Education Association

    "We need more accountability, not less. I believe that what gets measured gets done. In Texas, we say, 'In God we trust; all others bring data.'"
    --Margaret Spellings,former U.S. secretary of education

    "Enabling students to determine which scores to send to colleges is a great stress reliever. That's what the [Score Choice] policy is all about."
    --Laurence Bunin, College Board

    "There are students who may perform brilliantly on the SAT because they've taken it a dozen times. But now we won't know that."
    --Bruce Poch, dean of admissions, Pomona College, on the new Score Choice policy

    The Time Line

    690
    In China, first female emperor Wu Zetian uses uniform tests—including one to assess poetry-writing skills—to screen government workers.

    1900
    College Entrance Examination Board (today's College Board) formed to develop standardized essay exam for Ivy League.

    1905
    Alfred Binet, French psychologist, develops early IQ test.

    1910
    First widely used standardized test, the Thorndike Handwriting Scale, introduced in American public schools.

    1926
    The SAT makes its debut. Developed by Princeton psychologist who administered Army IQ test to screen WWI officer recruits.

    1934
    Harvard uses SAT to award scholarships to students of modest means.

    1941
    College Board decides essay tests are too cumbersome to grade during wartime; short-answer subbed in.

    1941
    Harvard requires SAT of all applicants.

    1947
    The College Board helps spawn Educational Testing Service to develop and administer the SAT.

    1956
    First Advanced Placement exam.

    1959
    Iowa-based American College Testing debuts the ACT as SAT alternative. (More colleges now prefer it over the SAT.)

    1968
    Future best-selling author Amy Tan scores in the 400s on the verbal section of the 1,600-point SAT.

    1971-1972
    Bill Gates scores a perfect 800 on the math.

    1983
    Presidential commission's report "A Nation at Risk" fuels testing boom.

    2002
    No Child Left Behind signed into law, requiring annual tests for grades 3-8 (some high school tests added later).

    2005
    The new SAT has an essay and a higher perfect score: 2,400.

    2006
    Oops! SAT's credibility takes a hit with grading errors on more than 4,000 tests. Possible cause: high humidity at test-scanning site.

    2008
    Baylor University offers incoming freshmen financial incentives to retake their SAT. Following criticism it's trying to boost its U.S. News & World Report ranking, Baylor denies it and reverses course.
    • From Reader's Digest - March 2009
     
    Must Read Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story
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    My children's school based their entire curriculum on the state test. As a result, I had to teach my children how to read a face clock and geography. They never were taught where the states are located. My son with Asperger's Syndrome was "ruining the curve" and so they wanted to send him to a life skills class at a nearby school. I home school him now and at 14, he is finally learning to read. The school's are too obsessed with their standing on the tests and not enough on the children.

    By theirmom6, on 2009-03-16 07:49:48.723

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