Standardized tests, such as the SATs, are administered to high school juniors and seniors to measure whether a student has the knowledge necessary to succeed in college-level courses. Standardized testing benefits schools as well as the state. The state administers tests to all schools to compare student and school scores and to see how students compare to the state's predetermined score. These tests also help schools improve over time. High school students are required to take a state exam every year. The state can evaluate the effectiveness of a particular school by comparing a student's performance over a four-year period. On the other hand, standardized tests are an inaccurate method of assessing student knowledge. Learning is not a simple task and there are many different ways to learn an idea. Standardized tests are usually multiple choice questions with all answers correct, but one of the choices is more appropriate than the other answers. Standardized testing is a one-way street for the state. It simply measures students' knowledge and compares scores to various other subjects. Students do not benefit directly from these tests. Standardized tests are not an effective way to assess a student's intelligence. Intelligence encompasses much more than the knowledge acquired in school. Standardized tests are a poor way to measure a student's intelligence. “The multiple choice format of the test measures knowledge and skills, not creativity and problem solving (Heibutzki). “Creative thinking and problem solving are the abilities that set one student apart from another. There are many different teaching methods that teachers use to give students the opportunity to discuss among students accepting and rejecting the student's SAT scores. The student with the highest SAT score will be the accepted student. In life, I don't believe that knowledge and skills are the best way to compare two people. As human beings, we are always learning and acquiring new skills. People differentiate themselves from others by participating in sports, activities, solving problems, and thinking outside the box. Standardized tests do not accurately illustrate a student's intelligence. Works Cited Heibutzki, Ralph. “What are the advantages and disadvantages of achievement tests? " Education. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC, nd Web. March 05, 2014.Redford, Kyle. “It’s time to dethrone standardized testing.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, February 28, 2014. Web. March 5, 2014. “Standardized Testing – ProCon.org.” ProConorg Titles. Np, and Web. March 05. 2014.