A Century of Standardized Testing: Controversies and Pendulum Swings

Standardized testing has been an ever-expanding, albeit controversial, part of education in the United States throughout the 20th century. Views on specific uses of tests have changed over the years, sometimes making popular a type of testing or intended use of test results that was earlier rejected in favor of some other new approach or use, which in turn fell into disfavor. I use 2 test uses, grade-to-grade promotion and college admissions, to illustrate some of the controversies and pendulum swings.