UNDERSTANDING STANDARIZED TESTS

Spring time brings standardized testing in schools.  Understanding what these tests encompass and what they are used for can help parents guide their children for greater test success.  These tests are typically created by commercial test publishing companies.  They are designed to give a uniform measure of students' performance.  Large numbers of students throughout the state or country take the same test, therefore, the tests give educators a common standard of measure. Missouri uses the MAP test across the state, but some school districts give additional national standardized tests.

Educators use these standardized tests to tell how well school programs are succeeding by building, grade level, subject area and specific student groups.  The results also give feedback on individual student skills and abilities.  Standardized tests can help teachers and administrators make decisions regarding the instructional program. They help schools measure how students in a given class, school, or school system perform in relation to other students who take the same test. Using the results from these tests, teachers and administrators can evaluate a school program or a particular student.  Educators most commonly use achievement tests to:

• Evaluate school programs;
• Report on students' progress;
• Diagnose students' strengths and weaknesses;
• Select students for special programs;
• Place students in special groups; and
• Certify student achievement for high school diplomas or to promote students from grade to grade.

Standardized tests are only one type of assessment used in school and give teachers only part of the picture of your child's strengths and weaknesses. Teachers combine the results of many methods to gain insights into the skills, abilities, and knowledge of your child, including observing students in the classroom, evaluating their day-to-day classwork, grading their homework assignments, conferencing with their parents, and keeping portfolios to track how students change or improve throughout the year.

Parents can help their child do their best on standardized tests.  Here are a few suggestions for parents to help their children do well on tests:

• Talk to your child's teacher on an ongoing basis to monitor your child's progress and find out what activities you can do at home to help your child.
• Make sure your child does his or her homework.
• Make sure your child is well-rested and eats a well rounded diet.
• Have a variety of books and magazines at home to encourage your child's curiosity.
• Don't be overly anxious about test scores, but encourage your child to take tests seriously.
• Don't judge your child on the basis of a simple test score.
• Make sure your child gets proper sleep and nutrition during test week (as should be done all school year). 

When parents feel knowledgeable and comfortable with what standardized testing is about, students feel less anxious as well.  Discuss at home the importance of your child doing his or best but that it is nothing to be nervous about.