Cons of Standardized Testing
Standardized testing is commonly known for its uniform method of evaluating student performance. However, while these tests may have been designed with good intentions, standardized testing can ultimately do more harm than good. One of the biggest things I dislike about standardized testing is the fact that to prepare students for these tests, teachers have to "teach the test" (McMillan, 2008, p. 5). Given that teachers can be limited in how they teach the curriculum, it reduces the chances of making a fun and engaging environment for students to learn in (which is necessary in Science classes because this subject is not as exciting as other subjects to some students). This reduction in flexibility and creativity ultimately produces an overwhelming amount of pressure for not only students but teachers as well (ProCon.org, 2018). Teachers have to worry about how their evaluation may be impacted if their students do not perform well while not doing well on a standardized test i