Standardized tests are a big part of our education, but do they really help?

When the end of the year arrives for students, it isn’t all summer relief. There are still final exams and Keystone exams. The Keystones are in place to “assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra 1, Literature, Biology, etc,” according to The Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Starting with the class of 2017, the Keystones are much more important since they can affect whether or not a student graduates. Starting with the current freshman class, a “proficient” or above on the Keystone exams is necessary to graduate. This may not seem like a problem for most students, but for others it can be a struggle.

Do these tests actually help the students and reflect what they really know?

Not all students learn the same way. Everyone expresses knowledge differently. Multiple choice tests may not accurately measure how much a student knows. A student may be able to write an essay that shows great knowledge on a subject, but may not be a very good multiple choice test-taker.  Likewise, a student who is borderline failing the class in question might pass the Keystone on lucky guesses.

While some students may not be as good on tests, others simply might not be good in one particular subject. If a student isn’t the best in math, he or she won’t likely do as well on the Algebra Keystone. If a student isn’t very good in a subject, but at least tries, then he or she should be commended for their effort.

If a student fails the Algebra Keystone but passes all their other subjects and tests, he will not be permitted to graduate. The only way to remedy this is to retake the Keystone during the next testing period. If a student keeps struggling to pass a test, he will have to keep retaking it in order to graduate.

Students should strive to do well, but preventing them from graduating just because they fail a standardized test seems unfair. They may be struggling with the subject and don’t intend to pursue a career that requires extensive knowledge of it.

Even the students who aren’t held to the graduation requirement still feel the same pressure and stress to do well. The stress can lead to them staying up late to study and skipping breakfast, something the test strongly discourages.

Prior to the test, students are advised to “get a good night’s sleep” and “eat a good breakfast.” If the students stay up all night to study, they cannot get a good night’s sleep. They also might not sleep because they are worried.

Of course, students can worry for every test, so this shouldn’t just be blamed on the Keystones themselves. Keystones are more important in students’ eyes, however, and seem more threatening than a regular test.

While there are negative effects on students, the test can have some positives. If the students fails, they will know that they need to improve in the subject so they pass.

The Keystone exams have a good original function: to assess and help students. This may be what they are supposed to do, but instead of helping the students, they mostly place unnecessary pressure on them.