Question

Those in favor of using non-traditional tests (e.g., portfolios, essays, projects) to evaluate students say that their use is much fairer than using standardized tests only. This is because it means that students who are willing to work hard but who perform poorly in standardized tests will have a better chance of doing well. However, there are challenges in the use of non-traditional tests that cast doubt on their fairness. For example, it is difficult to determine if a student received any help from others in putting together his or her portfolio. In addition, there is a growing market for customized essays whereby students can pay someone else to write essays for them via the internet. At the moment, the only deterrent is a teacher's vigilance. Although teachers might be able to identify work which seems atypical for an individual student, they won't necessarily be able to conclude whether this is due to the student's hard work or due to assistance the student received from others.

Which one of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage above?

1.Use of traditional tests may not evaluate how hard a student is willing to work to get a good evaluation.

2.Challenges of the use of non-traditional tests mean that students should only be evaluated using standardized tests.

3.Use of non-traditional tests to evaluate students is not necessarily fairer than using standardized tests to evaluate students.

Answer 1

3.Use of non-traditional tests to evaluate students is not necessarily fairer than using standardized tests to evaluate students.

Explanation:

The Use of non-traditional tests to evaluate students is not necessarily fairer than using standardized tests to evaluate students because it is difficult to determine if a student received any help from others in putting together his or her portfolio, essay or project except if he is closely monitored by the teacher. Also a student may pay someone online to write a customized essay for him/her via the internet therefore it cannot be concluded whether it is due to the student's hard work or due to assistance the student received from others.

Answer 2

Answer: 1.Use of traditional tests may not evaluate how hard a student is willing to work to get a good evaluation

Explanation:

Proponents of Traditional Tests argue that they are fairer because hard working students who may fail standadized tests may be able to pass them.

However, the text shows that that arguement has loopholes because a student could pass those Traditional testing methods by employing methods that are void of hard-work such as receiving help from other people or buying a customized essay over the internet.

Should this be the case then, Traditional tests may not be able to properly evaluate a student's hard work because one can not know if the submitted content was solely due to hard-work or if there was assistance from somewhere.