Do we still need tests in our schools today?

Do we still need tests in our schools today?

By Scott Fialkoff
EDI 15A Psychological Perspective: Teaching & Learning

School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 14, 2009

Our class on Tuesday was a lot of fun and it was very interesting. We had a debate regarding the subject of testing. Many of the students believed that testing should be mandatory and kept intact in schools throughout the country. I was in this group because I think that tests should be kept intact. The other group believed that testing should be abolished and that it is not fair.

The opposing group had good arguments but I just cannot agree with their ideas and points. This is because testing has many valuable effects for the teachers and the students. It gives the teachers rubrics regarding the grades of the students. Testing shows whether or not, the students are putting time and effort into the course materials. The tests provide the students with some type of motivation. One of the female students in my group made an excellent point when she said that she would have never studied if there were no tests given. If tests are abolished many students will become lazy because they will see no point in putting in the needed time and effort.

The other group mentioned how some students are just not good test takers. That was a great point but these students can have other opportunities to improve their grades such as extra credit assignments, papers, participation grades, and homework grades. My group won the debate which proves that we had the better argument.