Final answer:
Students tend to do poorly on tests due to lack of preparation often caused by excessive television watching, poor reading habits which affect their ability to write engaging essays, and socioeconomic factors that lead to unequal educational opportunities. Systemic issues in school organization and resource distribution also significantly affect performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Students often do poorly on tests for various reasons, but some common factors influencing their performance include:
- Lack of preparation: Excessive television watching can lead to poor exam performance due to the interference with a student's ability to prepare for an upcoming exam. Students who watch more television often perform more poorly on their exams.
- Poor reading habits: Skipping reading assignments can cause students to struggle with writing essays since they might rely on inaccurate text summaries and lack the in-depth analysis required for assignments.
- Socioeconomic factors: Social background disparities can lead to unequal educational opportunities and resources, which contribute to varying performance levels. In some top-ranking countries, a high proportion of 'resilient students' succeed despite their background, suggesting a need for systemic educational improvements.
In addition to these specific reasons, broader systemic issues such as the organization and management of schools, and the distribution of educational resources, can have a crucial impact on student test scores.