“Standardized testing is one of the most passionately debated education topics in America” (Baxter, p. 1). They became much more widespread after the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 mandated annual testing throughout the United States. Standardized tests are used to evaluate students and teachers, yet some people resist the idea that performance on a single test is a valid measure of what a student has learned or what his or her teacher has taught him or her. In this article I will argue that relying solely on standardized tests for student placement harms education. There are many different types of standardized tests used in schools across the country, but “high-stakes” achievement tests in U.S. elementary and secondary schools have produced the most controversy. “Measurement experts agree that no test is good enough to serve as the sole or primary basis for measuring student learning, achievement gaps, and teacher and school quality, and for imposing sanctions based on student scores. test” (FairTest, page 1). First, standardized tests are an unreliable measure of student achievement because they measure only a small portion of what makes education meaningful. According to researcher Gerald W. Bracey, "creativity, critical thinking, resilience, motivation, perseverance, curiosity, endurance, reliability, enthusiasm, empathy, self-awareness, self-discipline, leadership, civic-mindedness, courage, compassion, and resourcefulness" are all qualities that Standardized tests cannot measure. Multiple-choice standardized testing styles encourage simplistic ways of thinking and are therefore deemed an insufficient assessment tool. Students are required to answer questions in which there is only one right or wrong answer , which...... half of the paper... scores to evaluate teachers could also push many talented teachers out of the profession Overall, general concepts about education and human rights are prevalent in the success of my argument Standardized testing poses a controversial issue in education that is prevalent in today's society Standardized testing is increasingly becoming a norm in schools, and teachers are beginning to increase the number of standardized tests throughout the year. As I am entering the teaching profession, I have thought a lot about this topic. I have come to the conclusion that I do not believe all standardized tests are bad nor do I believe they should be completely removed from schools. I believe that standardized tests alone are not the best evidence of student achievement and that scores should not be used to determine the quality of teachers and schools.