Hello! It has been some time since I last posted on here, for some reason I couldn't log in :(((
Tomorrow is my first AS level exam, and I have some MAJOR ISSUES with the concept of standardised testing.
Firstly, and most obviously, it seems absolutely absurd to me that exams done from the age of around 15 should more or less determine our path in life, at least for the few years following. It does not make even the slightest bit of sense to me that what I wrote on one exam paper on one day aged 14 is still having an effect, albeit a small one, on the path of my education.
If the sheer stupidity of basing life-paths on a couple of exam papers isn't reason enough for me to hate standardised testing, why don't we talk about the fact that e v e r y b o d y i s d i f f e r e n t. To ask every single child to take the same test to measure intelligence, is like asking a fish and a monkey to climb a tree. Not everybody has the same skill set and therefore asking everyone to take the same test is bizarre and pointless.
There are children and teenagers who are fantastically kind, or who have a great sense of humour, or who help their Mum look after their Gran, or who have an incredible aptitude for dance, or who love to bake, but none of this can ever be shown through exams and tests. One GCSE Maths exam will show you two things: who is good at Maths, and who isn't.
Finally, any situational factors in the child's life are, unless specifically addressed, completely ignored. For example, I took every one of my GCSE exams, and will be taking my A Level exams, with a mental health disorder. I also happen to know that this had a hugely detrimental effect on the outcome of my exams. However, this was, in the eyes of the exam board, ignored, and my exam results were put next to those of some pupils who maybe have not had the same issues. It is not fair to treat every student as if they all live identical lives to one another (hint: they don't).
If we flip this on its head, it's fairly apparent (to me, anyway) that standardised testing and mental health issues are not mutually exclusive. The constant focus on exam results and coursework and qualifications throughout school cannot be having a healthy effect on most children, and while I clearly don't want to make any sweeping generalisations, it seems to me that the current schooling system (in the UK) is hugely debilitating to the mental health of school pupils.
The whole concept of standardised testing just seems to be so unproductive, pointless, and demeaning to school children's self-confidence.
That being said, I hope my exam goes well tomorrow.
Menna x
