Refers to an assessment administered and scored in a standard manner. All test takers answer the same questions, or selection of questions that come from a common bank of questions, in a consistent manner. Tests are administered and scored following predetermined guidelines to ensure uniformity across test takers. Tests are commonly administered to large populations and often graded by machines or blind reviewers to minimize subjectivity.

There are many uses for standardized testing, such as entry to any branch of the U.S. military; the knowledge portion of states’ driver’s license examinations; professional certifications; psychological testing; language proficiency; graduate and professional school readiness; undergraduate education readiness; secondary schools; IQ tests; and Achievement tests.

In elementary level education, standardized testing has been part of American education since the mid-1800s. Use increased after the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002, which mandated annual testing for K-12 students in all 50 states. In K-12 education, tests are also used to determine readiness for kindergarten, identifying students who need special-education services or specialized academic supports, placing students in different academic programs or course levels, and awarding high school diplomas.

International-comparison tests are administered periodically to representative samples of K-12 students in a number of countries, including the U.S. to compare educational performance by countries. Key tests include the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

Results from standardized tests in education are used in many ways, such as (1) holding schools and educators accountable for educational results and student performance; (2) evaluating whether students have learned what they are expected to learn (meeting state learning standards); (3) identifying gaps in student learning and academic among various student groups, including students of color, students who are not proficient in English, students from low-income households, and students with physical or learning disabilities; and (4) determining if educational policies (investments) are working as intended.