The dark side of exams: 3 negative effects of standardized testing on student learning Investigating the adverse effects of standardized testing on students learning and wellbeing and teachers development

Rawan Essam 

Standardized testing is a widely-used method to assess students' knowledge and skills uniformly. Despite its intention to provide a fair evaluation, it has drawn criticism for its negative effects on student learning. 

The negative effects of standardized testing threaten the well-being of students, causing plenty of psychological problems. Besides, the students do not have the chance to dive deep into learning materials and prefer memorization over understanding,  which leads to a loss of motivation for learning. 

Test anxiety 

The students may suffer from test anxiety, which can negatively impact academic performance and overall well-being. The students may experience test anxiety due to fear of failure, comparison with their peers, or a lack of preparation. Test anxiety is associated with an unpleasant feeling such as nervousness, worry, or fear experienced by students before, during, or after taking an exam or assessment. 

Moreover, it could cause cognitive impairments such as difficulty concentrating or blanking out. It can also cause eating or sleeping disorders. Test anxiety hits all the students, even children. Test anxiety can affect the performance of students from kindergarten through college, as well as adults who must pass job exams. Research shows that between 40 and 60% of students have severe test anxiety that interferes with their performing up to their capability (1)(2). 

Teaching to the test

The educators may feel stressed over the students’ performance on tests as a reflection of their success as teachers with students. A study revealed that teachers feel pressure to raise test scores, which forces them to prioritize test related skills over more complex aspects of subjects, ultimately neglecting a well-rounded education (3)(4).

The focus on exams rather than deeper understanding of the subject matter leads teachers to stop trying or develop new techniques and teaching methods in the classroom. So the fear of being perceived as an unqualified teacher, kills the teacher's creativity and applies teaching methods that depend only on memorization. Therefore, this will negatively impact students’ learning. Students might lose interest in the 

classroom, resulting in a lack of motivation to engage in learning.

Lack of motivation 

Motivation is the fuel that drives students to achieve success, develop themselves, and enhance their skills and experience. However, when it disappears, the consequences will be catastrophic.  The students may suffer from a lack of motivation after getting bad grades at tests. As the study shows, students who receive bad scores on tests are more likely to be less motivated to learn and persist in their studies (5)(6). 

In summary, educators should depend on another way of assessing students than standard tests. For example,  ways depend more on understanding than memorizing.  Ways do not put pressure on students and cause them to break down. Ways to guarantee that the student will be active and motivated in the educational process.