Opening:

The SAT is not perfect. We all know smart, knowledgeable people who do badly on standardized
tests. But neither is it useless. SAT scores do measure both specific knowledge and valuable
thinking skills. Virginia Postrel

Our position: We affirm the resolve that states on balance, standardized testing is beneficial to
k-12 education in the United States.

Definitions:
- Beneficial: favorable or advantageous; resulting in good.
- Synonyms: helpful, useful, profitable
- Standardized testing: A standardized test is any examination that's administered and
scored in a predetermined, standard manner, to display a student's academic standing
accurately.
- Education: The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a
school or university.
1. Main argument one: Fair and unbiased comparison
a. (Sub Point A) Point: Tests measure the quality of students education at each
school.
i. Evidence:
1. Students in specific states are required to take certain
standardized test that allow students from different districts to be
compared. This allows students to see where they are compared
to other students in their states.
2. The Department of Education says standardized tests measure
the progress of school and is used to see if the schools are
reaching the adequate yearly progress.
3. The college board states that most 4 year colleges use test scores
in their decision for admission but it is not the most important
factor.
ii. Explanation: With standardized testing students can compare the
intellectual differences between one another. This helps to know what
level students are at compared to other students there age. Knowing a
percent of a section on a test will help to create a line up between scores
on segments of a test like math and reading. The tests helps to show
students their strengths and weaknesses in certain categories helping
them to prepare for the future.
b. (Sub Point B) Point: All students are required to take the same/similar tests
allowing for easy comparison.
i. Evidence:
1. Columbia University states that standardized tests provide
accurate comparisons between sub-groups. These sub-groups
can include data on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special
needs, etc. This provides schools with data to develop programs
and services directed at improving scores in these subgroups.
2. The No Child Left Behind act which has now been replaced with
the Every Student Succeeds Act( ESSA) requires that all students
take tests in reading and math each year,
a. students who are not english proficient must instead take
an English proficiency test that measures their
understanding of the english language and how it is
spoken, written, and read.
3. Individual states may also administer their own tests in any
subject in any matter they see fit.
ii. Explanation: The data collected from each standardized test allows for
easy comparison between students for future education such as college.
Standardized tests also allow for data to be collected that will help
schools better their education levels by not only comparing students but
schools alswell. These standardized test also take into account students
who are not English proficient or have special needs.
1. Main argument two: Stress Levels
a. (Sub Point A) Point: Stress on students comes from academics not from
standardized testing alone.
i. Evidence:
1. Study at University of Arkansas found that the vast majority of
students do not exhibit stress and have a positive attitude towards
standardized testing programs.
ii. Explanation: If a student exhibits stress it comes from the school or
educational activities in or out of school as a whole, not necessarily from
standardized testing soley.
b. (Sub Point B) Point: Stress levels stay the same as normal testing,
standardized testing does not bring any more stress to a student.
i. Evidence:
1. Public agenda surveyed 1,342 public school students from grades
6-12; 95% of students said that they can either deal with the
stress or don't worry at all about standardized tests.
ii. Explanation: Contrary to regular belief stress levels dont get higher
when taking standardized tests. If a students is regularly stressed when
taking in class tests then of course they are going to be stressed taking
standardized tests, that's not going to change. So saying that
standardized testing alone will cause a student to be more stressed is
false.
 1. Main argument three: Curriculum
a. (Sub Point A) Point: Standardized testing have positive impacts and improved
the quality of the curriculum.
i. Evidence:
1. The Department of Education states that there are state standards
for each grade level on what a child of that grade should know in
each subject. State standards in each curriculum should be taught
in each class room. If teachers cover the material required by
state standards then students will master the material they will be
tested on without any special test prep needed.
ii. Explanation: By teaching, teachers are already preparing their students
for standardized tests, so there is no need to take out time in the
curriculum to make room for test prep. If a student's pays attention in
class, does well in the regular curriculum, as well as understands the
material, than they have all the information that they need to know for the
standardized test.
b. (Sub Point B) Point: Reviewing for testing does not take away from learning
other material.
i. Evidence:
1. Public agenda found that 8 out of 10 students have teachers who
review for tests and nearly all of those students say that it does
not come at the expense of neglecting other class work.
2. The Education Policy Analysis Archives finds that standardized
tests do not narrow the curriculum, rather they focus on important
basic skills all students need to master.
ii. Explanation: Reviewing for standardized test does not have an effect on
students and their learning, rather it can help them focus on the important
skills that they need to know not only for standardized tests but to gain
further education.

Closing:
Standardized testing isnt perfect but it is a good and fair way to gage what a student has
learned and improved upon during the school year. Thus there is no reason to suggest that
standardized testing is hurting students education. Therefore my partner and I support the
resolution that states on balance, standardized testing is beneficial to k-12 education in the
United States.