Standardized Tests Critiqued in NYT

[ivyalumni]

<p>Yet another article that reveals shortcomings with the SAT and the test industry more generally. Thought it might be of interest. I post the link below (it’s on the NYT web site, and registration is free but required).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/weekinreview/02arenson.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/weekinreview/02arenson.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[xiggi]

<p>What a surprise! Another poorly researched and shoddy reporting from the venerable NyTimes. </p>

<p>Did they bother to check the potential bias of this “expert” or make a minimum of efforts to learn the correct terminology? </p>

<p>

Tryout questions. Proposed new questions are inserted into real tests for a tryout. Even though the questions do not count, they can throw students off, said W. James Popham, an emeritus professor at the University of California at Los Angeles who has also worked in test development. </p>

<p>“Some of these previously untried items are bloody awful, occasionally having no right answers at all,” he said. “The test taker doesn’t know that this is a ‘no-count’ item and, therefore, might be traumatized by being unable to answer it.” Though not a frequent problem, he said, it does occur.

</p>

<p>Can the author of such books as “Testing! Testing! What Every Parent Should Know About School Tests” and “The Truth About Testing: An Educator’s Call to Action.” really provide an unbiased opinion?</p>

[ariesathena]

<p>

“The test taker doesn’t know that this is a ‘no-count’ item and, therefore, might be traumatized by being unable to answer it.” Though not a frequent problem, he said, it does occur.

How is that not indicative of how the student will fare in college, when he is almost certain to encounter too much work or work that simply is beyond him?</p>

<p>I do think that standarized tests have their place. I’m also of the opinion that test-prep courses should be abolished; barring that, I wish that the lists of people who take them would be provided to colleges and the scores “flagged” for having taken the course. If you have the initiative to study the test on your own, you’ll be fine - you’ll show that initiative in college when you don’t automatically “get” the material. </p>

<p>Eh. Not perfect, but that doesn’t make them useless.</p>