Who Really Benefits from Standardized Tests?

The creating of standardized tests for elementary grades through high schools have helped to make book companies like Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcout, and CTB/McGraw-Hill rich. Although the tests are known to be filled with errors, the corporations are said to be those who push for new standards so that they can make newer tests for making more money. Inequitable results occur as the students who have the proper text books, obviously have a greater advantage when taking the tests.

Standardized testing has been used for decisions for college admission, as discriminate determinations occur as the scores are used to predict successful college completion of students and the likely unsuccessful college students. Those who score high on SATs and ACTs have been more likely to be admitted into college and to be the recipients of merit kinds of financial aid and scholarships. Studies have shown that those who have the benefit of test preparation are more likely to score higher than those who do not have access, as those in low income areas are least likely to have access to test preparation. Districts like Lower Merion School District offers Test Prep classes at discounted rates for their students. However, studies show that when comparing grade point averages (GPA) to scores on standardized test, the “SAT” scores are more closely related to a student’s socio-economic characteristics than on their ability to have success in college.

Naturally, corruption is known to exist in the college-board admissions process including the ACT, and College Boards, as universities have been found to take part in unethical practices regarding student scores while using scores in unethical manners. As colleges are known to falsify student scores who have been accepted to increase rates for selected students, and students also cheat to increase scores. Scores are misappropriated to measure the financial stability of institutions, the College Board and ACT Inc. enjoy the benefits of non-profit status while making huge profits from high school students. Overcompensation designated for the CEOs and board of directors of ACT, have resulted in the Attorney General of IOWA being compelled to recommend to the IRS to evaluate their non-profit status (Americans for Educational Testing Reform, 2012, para.1). Unfortunately, colleges and universities, who require standardized entrance exams, are not even aware if the questions on the exams serve of any importance. The questions on the exams are skewed and for males over females and whites over female students. The standardized tests are also biased as they are in favor of students who are wealthy and who have educated parents.

The problem is that corruption exists because of non-acceptance of differences among people and the test is the weapon. Slavery and abuses have occurred in the world because of non-acceptance of people who are different from another. In a more hidden but just as harmful approach to slavery, standardized learning and testing have been engrained into American society to separate people. The reality is that humans cannot be standardized as humans are all unique as God has made each one different, as each represents various ways of life and innate intelligences. Can one be so biased to think that because an individual is born rich, that that individual possesses higher intelligences or has more potential than another? Embedded in American society is the fallacy that whites are smart and blacks should learn to be white.

The good thing is that all over the country, universities are now taking a stand and are not requiring standardized testing as a requirement for entrance. A researched list of colleges and universities who no longer requires sat/act exams for entrance reflected as recent as summer 2014, was eleven pages long. Temple University has recently announced that they too will join the many other colleges to discard the SAT exam. Temple, located in the North Philadelphia section of urban Philadelphia, provides a path for students who may not perform well on the standardized test but who are extremely talented.

One can only pray for an American society where people are accepted regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. One can only dream of a society where each individual is encouraged to develop skills needed to enhance society in this global market without the obvious racist undertones and biases. This can only produce a kinder society while closing the door to corrupt leaders who profit off of the unassuming. Why should society buy-in to the demands of greedy rich men/women? Why are these corporations able to impose mandates on American students? So many gifted young people have missed their opportunity because of standardized testing. The agenda has been corrupt and has kept low-income students and students of color from having equal advantages. Capitalism in America was never intended to take advantage of the people as loyalty to the product and loyalty to the people of this great nation go hand –in-hand. Society has a long ways to go but, as long as people can make societal decisions merely because they have money rather than morals, then societal change will not occur. We must insist that our society be run by ethical people who can make sound decisions about the most important issues of our society for the sake of our children and grandchildren.