Beyond the Test Scores: Is Standardized Testing a Tool or a Tyrant for Global Education?

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Bridging Global and Local Education: Testing, Digital Skills, and Teacher Impact

Abstract

Standardized testing plays a central yet contested role in global education governance, functioning as both an informational tool and a coercive accountability mechanism. Drawing on policy instrument theory, this study uses test frequency to capture its informational role and test-based accountability to represent coercive functions. Utilizing PISA data from multiple countries, a three-level hierarchical linear model estimates their effects on student achievement. Results show that moderate test frequency enhances academic performance, particularly benefiting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. In contrast, high-stakes accountability tends to suppress performance, especially among high-SES students. These findings reveal the complex, unequal impacts of standardized testing and underscore the need for evaluation systems that balance informative feedback with equitable accountability pressures.

Authors

• Yuan Cui, Beijing Normal University

• Qian Zhao, Beijing Normal University