English Language Learner KnowledgeBase for Administrators & Teachers

Guidelines for the Assessment of English Language Learners (ELLs)

In 2009, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) published this comprehensive guide for test developers, test administrators, educators, education policymakers and others. This 27-page Guidelines for the Assessment of English Language Learners is one in a series of research-based ETS publications that address quality issues as they relate to fairness and equity in testing.

The Psychological Effects of Standardized Testing on Young English Language Learners

This ERIC.gov resource features this study which investigates whether the growing use of standardized testing methods may impact learners differently across language proficiency levels. Survey and language proficiency data from 22 second grade native (African American) and non-native (Hispanic and Vietnamese) English speakers were analyzed to examine whether worry, or test anxiety, foreign language anxiety, efficacy, and environmental pressures manifest differently depending on students' language proficiency levels (defined to include a measure of reading ability). The results confirm research findings that performance anxiety varies inversely with language proficiency. Environmental pressure is found to impact learners unevenly across the language spectrum.

Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

This June 2019 ThoughtCo article examines the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing.  The author, Derrick Meador, states, "standardized testing can be a controversial topic among parents, teachers, and voters. Many people say standardized testing provides an accurate measurement of student performance and teacher effectiveness. Others say such a one-size-fits-all approach to assessing academic achievement can be inflexible or even biased. Regardless of the diversity of opinion, there are some common arguments for and against standardized testing in the classroom."

The Effects of Standarized Testing on Students

This Study.com website states no matter where you stand on testing, though, the reality is that, at least for now, it is part of the fabric of our students' lives. Because of this, it is important to think about how testing impacts our students. This includes educational effects, of course, but it also includes psychological and social effects.  In this lesson, we will look at some of the positive ways standardize testing can affect students, and we will also look at some of the more negative potential impacts. We will close by considering what teachers can do to help make students feel good about themselves when faced with the pressures of testing.

What is a Standardized Test?

This Studyusa.com website offers a description of standardizing testing in the United States.