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Ravi Singh
Ms. Ingram
English I Honors
16 March 2016
Persuasive Essay
Have you ever wondered why we take so many tests as students? It is because of the
reasons that follow. Educational Tests and Measurements play a huge role in todays growing
society and it is a very controversial topic that has its pros and cons, but the pros outweigh the
cons. All of the reasons provided show evidence that educational tests and measurements are bad
and even though they these reasons have their counter-arguments, the pros still outweigh the
cons because of its guidance, ability to show progression and the tests itself.
The guidance that the tests provide is the major key to the learning provided by the
teachers. Standardized testing gives teachers guidance to help them determine what to teach
students and when to teach it. (School and Child Care Search Service Columbia University).
Because of these tests, the teachers now know what to teach their students so that they can learn
and so that they can do well on their standardized tests. On the other hand though, people believe
that the teachers only teach the tests and that they dont make their students creative. In some
cases, sadly, this is true but for the most part the teachers do a great job preparing the kids for
these tests while providing a healthy and creative education for the given students. Overall, the
guidance is for the good in helping students and teachers achieve their goals.
Standardized tests come in handy because of their ability to show progression. This helps
students, teachers, and schools measure academics. This comes in handy in so many ways and it
definitely plays a big role in how colleges are able to select students to go to their school. The

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importance of these tests and measurements is greatly relied on the progression that they show
(Neely 2). This book that I got from a library that has a whole chapter dedicated to the
importance of assessment expresses the point that these tests are needed in so many ways
including recruiting and placement. Now people could say that these measurements could be
misleading or wrong but rarely does that occur and if so, better safe than sorry when taking
harder classes. All in all, without these tests and their measurements, we wouldnt really know
what classes to take or what college to go to which is what makes the ability to show progression
vital and good.
The SAT and ACT are the single-most important tests you will take in your entire life.
They play such a big role in your life. This one test literally decides your future. This is good
because Setting Aspirational Goals Can Improve Outcomes (American Teacher). Since these
tests are huge youre going to want to set some goals and with these goals, they can improve
your outcome. Saying to yourself that you can do it and by studying you can do well on these
tests and then these skills can greatly help you in the future. These tests can also give you
something called eustress which is stress that motivates you and potentially can make you do
better. But there are two sides to every story meaning that there is also the bad stress that could
make you do worse. There are some people that are bad test takers so the pressure gets to them
making them do worse but for the most part, these tests motivate you opposed to scaring you.
These tests not only decide your future but can help you greatly in the future mentally as well.

Standardized tests and measurements play a huge role in todays society for the good
because of their guidance, ability to show progression and the tests itself. The pros completely

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outweigh the cons as explained above. With all of the facts about standardized tests and
measurements, the clear choice is that they are good and make the world a better and easier place
to live in.

Works Cited
Asch, Chris Myers, and Jennifer Dounay Zinth. "Should Students Be Required to Take
the SAT or ACT, and Apply..." American Teacher. Mar/Apr 2012: 3. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://sks.sirs.com>.
Neely, Teresa Y. Information Literacy Assessment: Standards-based Tools and
Assignments. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. Print.

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University, Columbia. Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing (2013): n. pag. Spring
2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. <http://worklife.columbia.edu>.