Do you think student portfolios should be used for student promotion instead of state test? In my many experiences I always thought portfolios should be used because whenever I take state test I get nervous and fail. So honestly I would prefer portfolios to be used for promotion instead of state tests. They show the work students have completed over the entire school year, instead of just the results of one test. In my opinion i think that taking state tests is very hard because I always get stressed when i’m taking something that can determine what happens to my future.

    One significant reason I believe that school officials should eliminate standardized tests for student promotion is that many students do everything they need to in school, but when it comes to state test they fail and it’s over. According to the text “I Know The Material, But When I Take The Test I Go Blank” from k-state it states “It is normal and healthy to feel some anxiety before an exam. Many students, however, complain about "test anxiety", explaining that they went into a test knowing the material but that they "went blank" when they began to take the exam. Or when they receive their test results, they find that they made "silly mistake". What they think is "too much anxiety" may really point to a gap in their study skills.”

Another substantial reason I believe that school officials should eliminate standardized tests for student promotion is how school officials make the test, and teachers teach us all things we need to learn for the test, but what about other things we need to learn in life?According to the text “How Standardized Testing Damages Education” written by Robert Schaeffer it states, “No. Tests that measure as little and as poorly as multiple-choice exams cannot provide meaningful accountability. Instead of being accountable to parents , community, teachers and students, schools become “accountable” to an unregulated testing industry. “Score inflation” results when narrow test preparation replaces more in-depth and comprehensive instruction. Not only do students get an inferior education, but the public gets the mistaken impression that education is improving” (Fairtest)

Some people have a reason to believe that standardized tests are the way to go. In the text “Should A Standardized Test Be A Requirement For High School Graduation?” from Wordgeneration it states “The tests are geared to the skills people need in jobs and in college supporters say standardized testing is fair because all students are graded using the same criteria. For example, writing might be graded by how many examples the students give.” However, I think they are wrong because if they look and grade students based on what they can do instead of what they see on a test that students may be stressed out on, students may do better. In the text “Should A Standardized Test Be A Requirement For High School Graduation?” from Wordgeneration It states “Other students might have trouble focusing their attention. Their test scores might not show what they really know.”   

In conclusion, in my opinion I think that doing and wasting money on state test is a waste of time. School officials could be using all this money used on state test and use it on textbooks, laptops and other school supplies for students. Many students take so many test and fail so why waste all this money on state test if students are not even going to succeed  on them. If you agree you should write a petition in your school or ask your parent to opt you out of taking a state test.