What are high-stakes assessments? Tests are referred to as “high stakes” when significant consequences are tied to the performance of students on the test (Vanderbilt University, 2016). A high-stakes test is any test used to make important decisions about students, educators, schools, or districts, most commonly for the purpose of accountability (Abbott, 2014).
Advantages:
- provide schools, administrators and stakeholders relevant information on the level of competency of students
- determinants of low-,mid-, and high-lvil learners for promotion and even for scholarship grants
- ensure that proper and adequate education is being rendered
- help teachers create a learning plan based on student’s needs
- frequent practice tests can help students improve their test-taking abilities over time
High-stakes testing provides relevant information to school administrators, teachers, students and parents on where the students are at the end of the learning process. It is good to note that this kind of testing will demonstrate a certain level of competency amongst the members of the educational system. It also ensures quality education and adequate knowledge is imparted. Though not all performs well in testing, we also have to consider that most of entrance/admission procedures, whether going to school, university or applying for work, needs a certain kind of testing. And this high-stakes assessment can desensitize students for future test-related anxieties. Moreover, it helps teachers to create and modify plans for the teaching process that is apt for students to meet their changing and demanding needs.
Disadvantages:
- may cause unjust and bias treatment to students because some students do not test well, some are affected by anxiety or may not score well in standardized testing
- it may lead to grade retention and dropping out
- students are being trained for the purpose of taking the test rather than train to learn
- reduces motivation of teachers and students
High-stakes assessment may have its setbacks. Lots of proponents of this kind of assessment has been discouraging its use because it is unfair to the learners. Not all learners do well in standardized test ing, such as multiple-choice type of test. Some students who are language learners and has disabilities most likely will fail in this kind of assessment too. They should be given consideration and fair chance rather than not letting them graduate or not be promoted to the next level. Some students may also have bad experiences that may cause anxiety or fear of test-taking in the future. High-stakes tests drive teachers out of teaching and turn students off from learning rather than increasing their enthusiasm and motivation to learn. This is pretty alarming since the whole objective of the teaching-learning process is to LEARN.
References:
Vanderbilt University (2016). Definition of High-Stakes Testing. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/hst/cresource/q1/hst_01/
Hidden curriculum (2014, August 26). In S. Abbott (Ed.), The glossary of education reform. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/hidden-curriculum
Fairtest (2007). The Dangerous Consequences of High-Stakes Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://www.fairtest.org/dangerous-consequences-highstakes-standardized-tes
Munoz (2014). High Stakes Testing Pros and Cons. Retrieved from https://www.education.com/magazine/article/high-stakes-testing-pros-cons/
MITCHEL AFRICA 