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I'm a testing coordinator at a High School, and your post explains just why teachers and administrators are also frustrated with testing!
Students do not always demonstrate their true proficiency on standardized tests. Some do not do well on such tests due to anxiety or perspective, and others don't care enough to try.
The same society that you feel insists on rating intelligence wants to rate its schools and teachers. The government needs an "objective" way to measure student achievement, because it funds the school system and must justify its funding. Every organization that utilizes funds must evaluate the quality of its investment. To date, the only way they seem to have found to do this is by standardized testing. It is intended to take the subjectivity out of assessments done by individual teachers, who will surely vary in their evaluations of students.
I am not claiming testing to be the best idea, or even a good idea - I'm just explaining why they do it. We all struggle with the outcome!
You show a lot of insight. It's refreshing to hear a student complain about testing with a good reason - you want relevance and application for your education.
Usually the tests are based on the simple facts and basis for a subject, so I would assume that, to fully understand the subject, you would have to know about those. It's hard to believe you "understand what you are talking about" but don't know the basic facts behind the subject you supposedly fully understand. Maybe you need to learn how to think on a smaller level to better know the basic material before fully applying the concepts.
I agree with you 100 percent. There is no better way to test the masses though in the time given..it would require one to one teacher/student comprehension tests. The proof they say is in the pudding, which is true.. later on in the real world, those that can just ramble off facts, won't really go very far. It is those that truly understand the material that will succeed. Around a conference table, those that don't really get it, stand out like a sore thumb..they end up working for people like you.. Don't sweat it, if you are as smart as you say you are, test scores won't be the only deciding factor in your future. You have the ability to think and create for yourself.. This is a huge advantage in the real world. Leaders think and create, the rest follow.
starting from last to first..teachers do care about application BUT (a big BUT) application only matters after you are set into your career...while yes u must be able to apply what you learn in college the majority of school is based on text books and exam scores..hence the rewards for scholastic achievement..studies show if there are rewards for behaviors people are more likely to do what it takes to receive these awards...in this case rewarding high scores on exams encourages studying text, not necessarily application...
advice for you..if u already read enough then i suggest that u concentrate on key terms and concepts to help you out with ur text scores..
Do you work with your teacher outside of class or go to a resource center for help with concepts you are studying? If not, you should, and help sessions with the teacher would help him/her get to know you and know your capabilities and learning styles. Confide in your teacher about your situation when it comes to testing, and ask whether he/she would give you an alternative assessment instead or in addition to the test (and count for at least part of the grade). If you did, say, a reflection, research paper, analysis, or project that incorporated the topic's educational goals, that assessment could play to your strengths and demonstrate your successful learning. If you hesitate to discuss this with the teacher for some reason, try talking to a trusted guidance counselor or another teacher in the school and perhaps the two of you can approach your teacher and work out a reasonable strategy.
Good luck!
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