Persuasive Essay on Academic Achievement

Introduction

Over the past years, students have been required to take standardized tests to get a diploma. However, today, there have been debates on the necessity of these tests to graduate. Some people do believe that when high school students take standardized tests before being awarded a diploma, then their academic achievement will improve. Other people disagree with the approach. From my perspective, standardized tests to get a diploma are mandatory because they determine the strengths and weaknesses of students.

Foremost, students who get a diploma should deserve the award. A diploma is important in the outside world because it helps students get career opportunities. As mentioned earlier, the strengths and weaknesses of a student are determined by standardized tests. If students do not take any tests, then they will unable to theorize what they learned in school in the real life. In essence, when students acquire the diploma that they earned, they will feel proud of themselves. Deep down, they will feel a sense of accomplishment because they worked hard and smart to acquire their diploma. In turn, their sense of accomplishment will improve the academic achievement of the students when they further their studies. Particularly, when they go to college, taking standardized tests and passing them to get a diploma will help students have the zest to excel in their academics.

Standardized tests are mandatory to improve academic achievement because they enhance learning. When the educators' board receives the tests from students, they manage to point out the areas that need improvement in learning. They improve academic achievement in a way that the board can manage to vet independent schools in the state as well as international ones and determine their success or failure. Through that, schools know their student's performance and decide whether to change or stick with their curriculum. Besides improving the curriculum, the school can determine the educational areas that need more willpower, time, and resources.

Standardized tests are significant in improving academic achievement because they help schools to evaluate progress. When students take the tests, teachers will manage to compare the performance trends of students, thus tying any loose ends. For instance, if in the last year students performed well in math and performed poorly in the following year, teachers can manage to assess the areas that need improvement. Conversely, if the math grades go up in two to three years, teachers will continue to do what they have always done to ensure that the student's grades remain the same. Also, they can decide to implement their strategies for academic achievement in their curriculum. Justly, standardized tests help schools to determine any educational challenges that students might be going through and find ways to overcome them in the future.

Conclusion

In summary, each high school student should be required to take standardized tests before being awarded any diploma. As mentioned, it improves academic achievement by giving students the determination to study hard and smart, improves learning in schools, as well as helps to evaluate the progress of students. In as much as standardized tests can be difficult, they are important to assess schools both internally and externally. Opponents of standardized should have a different outlook towards the tests. They should look at it as a way of improving their student's learning and not as a way to judge their academic effectiveness.