6 Big Problems with Standardized Tests

When you see your child's test score, in your heart of hearts, you may wonder why the score wasn't higher. Let me explain 6 problems with standardized tests.

1. The problem with tests is that they don't measure what is REALLY important. Qualities NOT Measured by Tests [Printable Poster].
2. The problem with tests is that there will always be some kids who score better than others, no matter how well they do. If you compare your child to another, someone will always come up holding the short straw, and that's not fair to anyone. Homeschooling at Peace Inside the Bell-Shaped Curve.
   
3. The problem with tests is that they measure what a child does NOT know, but doesn't measure what the child DOES know. It may show a child doesn't know how to spell "opaque" but may not show the child can spell the synonyms "translucent, obscure, mysterious, perplexing, mystifying, unfathomable, incomprehensible, unintelligible, enigmatic, and cryptic."
4. The problem with tests is that they can distract parents and teens from what is truly important for long term success in life: general core education and work ethic. Literacy allows your child to learn anything they need to know in the future. A test score can't do that.
5. The problem with tests is that they don't always reflect what a student knows if that student isn't good at taking tests. Learning challenges, dyslexia, dysgraphic, anxiety, ADHD, etc., will all skew the results of measuring knowledge or ability, because they make it hard to perform in a timed, fill-in-the-bubble format.
6. The problem with tests is that they don't measure mastery of material. They provide a snapshot of some skills, not a landscape of learning.

Your normal, natural homeschool can be successful when you cover core literacy, and find a way for your child to succeed to the best of their ability in the college admission tests. 

All of this can be stressful. Have you tried cookies yet? Eat Cookies to Get a Better SAT Score.

I'd love for you to leave a comment with anything you can add.