Do you struggle with standardized testing?
You’re not alone! I haven’t done well on tests such as the SAT©, ACT©, or GMAT©. In the past, this has affected my self-confidence, made me feel stupid, and led me to believe I would never be successful.
Standardized testing allows us to brag about our scores to our friends, attend the universities of our dreams, and also gives us the opportunities to conquer anything. If you’ve done well on these exams, I’ll tip my cap off to you!
Despite what you may think, standardized testing will not dictate how successful you will become! In the book A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink writes that those who have a strong right brain will eventually rule the world.
Yet, if you’re like me, and have struggled with standardized testing; here are a few things to consider:
1. Anyone Can Ace a Test.
Just as you have learned to ride a bike or throw a Frisbee, anything can be learned. The same goes for a standardized test! When you’re struggling, don’t beat yourself up, get the score you need in order to move forward, and forget about it!
2. They are a Small Portion of your Educational Knowledge.
According to late education researcher Gerald W. Bracey, Ph.D., qualities that standardized tests cannot measure include “creativity, critical thinking, resilience, motivation, persistence, curiosity, endurance, reliability, enthusiasm, empathy, self-awareness, self-discipline, leadership, civic-mindedness, courage, compassion, resourcefulness, sense of beauty, sense of wonder, honesty, integrity.” (Gerald Bracey, “One Reason (Among Many) That No Child Left BehindCannotWork,” http://www.huffingtonpost.com, Jan. 2, 2007)
3. Creativity Crisis.
Multiple-choice tests don’t measure our creativity. When it comes to innovating new ideas and products it will be the creative minds that we will be leaning on in the future. Being able to distinguish which is the correct answer choice or process of elimination will not help you become victorious!
So, if you have had trouble mastering Standardized tests, don’t worry! It won’t hold you back from achieving your goals as long as you have the grit to persevere!
