High Stakes Testing Education Essay Research Paper

High-stakes Testing
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High-stakes Testing
The concept of high-stakes testing
High-stakes testing is any test conducted to make significant decisions on students, educators, schools, and educational districts. The major purpose of the test is to check the accountability of the individuals towards the achievement of excellent outcomes in education (Marchant, 2004). For instance, governments and school administrators can engage in high-stakes testing in an attempt to ensure that students are enrolled in good schools and also taught by effective, well-trained teachers (Marchant, 2004). This process is carried out to ensure that the students gain the best knowledge from the learning experience. High-stakes means that the test results are used to determine distinct aspects of education. First, they aid in determining punishments not only for students but also for issues such as sanctions, negative publicity, and funding reductions (Marchant, 2004). Marchant (2004) claims that they are used in determining accolades, in what should be offered for certain achievements in occasions like awards, positive publicity, and also public celebrations in learning. Third, they help in the determination of advancements for events such as students’ graduation and promotion from a grade or level to the next one (Marchant, 2004). Finally, they determine compensation for issues such as salary increment or a bonus for the teachers and education administrators.
Response to critics
Although the tests may lead to a redefinition of teaching where teachers concentrate on the preparation of students for the tests, the realized benefit is equally appropriate since learners gain more skills in a different field, other than the standard assessment they should adhere to during schooling. Thus, the test help students, and even though they may be adopted to concentrating on them at the expense of other fields, they do not induce significant detriment on their education.
Arguments for the use of the high-stake...