There has been a lot of debate about whether standardized testing should be the way intelligence is measured. The majority of students feel that standardized testing is not a fair way to measure intelligence because it covers only a portion of what they have learned.
“I don’t think that standardized testing measures real intelligence, because it doesn’t account for the work that you have done prior and the tests that you have taken throughout the year,” freshman Elise Howard said.
Many students wonder whether standardized tests are something they can truly study for. When students prepare to take standardized tests, they often focus on learning the exam format and question types. Understanding how the test is structured can help students feel more prepared and confident.
“I think that knowing what content the test covers can help you prepare for the standardized testing. There are only so many question types that can be asked, so knowing what to expect should lead to an improved score on the test,” math teacher Neal Bunker said.
Some argue that standardized exams only measure a small set of skills, while others feel they are a valid measure of intelligence.
“I think standardized testing can be a fair way to evaluate someone’s intelligence if it’s based on all subjects, not only one,” junior Nicolas Daniels said.
Many question whether standardized tests measure more than just textbook intelligence. Teachers and students argue that these exams overlook students’ diverse strengths shaped by their backgrounds and personal interests. This is why many students question whether test scores truly reflect a student’s full intelligence.
“It is very difficult to quantify how intelligent someone is, especially because we have our own intelligence depending on our backgrounds and interests,” Bunker said.
People have all kinds of opinions about what really evaluates people’s intelligence. Some argue that standardized testing is the most accurate way to do it, while others think it is not precise at all because it does not account for everything else.
“In my opinion, I don’t feel standardized testing is the best and most accurate way to measure someone’s intelligence, but I understand why some people think differently,” Howard said.
