Three hours and 45 minutes of SAT testing, four to five hours of ACT testing and four days of FCAT testing.
Imagine as a college student having to sit through hours and possibly even days to complete a mandatory standardized test issued by President Bush.
The Bush administration has appointed an education commission to determine whether standardized testing should be extended to colleges and universities.
“Why?”
To assess what students are learning.
Clearly we are learning, and our education is based on the hands-on learning experience and knowledge gained over a time period of at least four years- it cannot be summed up into one test.
Of the millions of students enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States, each is of a different major studying a different subject.
Comprehensive tests like the GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT are administered to undergraduates pursuing a post-graduate degree.
Those vying for placement in graduate school, business school, law school and medical school, respectively are already concerned with this one test.
Why add another test, which in turn will disproportionately put all students at a disadvantage if the questions are not relevant to their specific discipline?
If college students are forced to go through college preparing for this one test, then the education system has failed us. A student’s level of knowledge is being assessed every day by professors.
If you are paying for a class, it is in your best interest to make sure you are getting a sound education.
Don’t let the government do it for you.
Malika Harrison for the editorial board.