There are so many ways around standardized tests. And really our only goal is to "pass them". I swear in all my years of school (or at least since 2nd grade, I kid you not) when standardized tests roll around we spend more time learning how to take the test, than learning the information. We are taught how the tests will "trick us" we are taught "short cuts" we are taught how to "mentally prepare". "Sleep well the two nights before, wake up and eat a full breakfast, limit stressful activities.." But do these giant tests we are taking even test our knowledge? I think to some extent yes, but on the surface...not so much. We are never really told to study but told to prepare ourselves.
I think every student has there own way of learning and are better at doing somethings than they are others. I think that your school grades are not a reflection how much you know, nor are these tests. Really the only thing that I think is even worth our time is "Using your current knowledge of _______ and the table/passage above answer the question that follows." Those kind of questions help put the knowledge we are given into real world perspective. I wish there was an easier way to test that really tested on if we knew the material or not. The only time this is really examined is in math. When we are given the bubble in your answers, because you aren't given four answer choices that you can use "common sense" to rule out.
So in other words, standardized testing is annoying and lame and in some ways a waste of time. (Time spent on how to take the test that could be used learning I don't know...the information!)
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