Submitted by Richard Munro, Sep 26, 2007 21:40

Tests are merely dipsticks; they do not really say much about the quality of an education espeically when they are not comprehensive and complete tests like the IB or AP tests. In overcrowed classes students can cheat using cell phones or merely copying. Teachers being harassed about low test scores have a tremendous incentive to teach to the test quite literally. If the same test is given year after year it is only human for a teacher, consciously or not, to tell his students what is on the test and what to study.

One last point: AP students are highly motivatedto take AP tests by and large and so do their very best. On the contrary on many of these general skills tests there is no incentive or reason for the students to apply themselves. In fact many may leave them blank as almost a kind of revenge upon their school or teacher.

Yes, standaridized tests are a dipstick and tell us SOMETHING...but one must withold judgment about their validity. They give a general picture which we HOPE is accurate and true but of course it might not be. It is easy for a test given many times to be compromised. .

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