In 2016, 3.6 million standardized tests were administered in Florida, (orlandosentinel.com), and in the two years that have followed, only more tests have been added.

Standardized testing has become too frequent, to the point where it seems we’re bombarded nearly every week with a different test. FCAT, FSA, EOC, PSAT, midterms, and the list goes on and on. Not only does it cause immense stress, but it also decreases the time teachers have to teach, and students have to learn.

Students are told to study before each big standardized test. This results in exponential stress to get a satisfactory grade for both themselves, their parents, and their teachers.

Each state mandated test has students sitting in a testing location for a minimum of 90 minutes, usually stretched across two days. If this isn’t stress inducing, then what is? How are students supposed to ‘eat a good breakfast’ and ‘get a good night’s sleep’ with the stress of studying for exams weighing them down?

“The whole last week of school is all standardized testing, and it’s extremely stressful to prepare for,” freshman Lena Duque said. “We’ve had constant standardized tests since elementary school, it’s crazy.”

With the school year only consisting of 180 days, it’s already difficult for teachers to fit in all the required curriculum. When tests, and the prep for these standardized tests are factored in, it becomes nearly impossible for them.

Teachers have to fast track through units, or breeze by chapters so that students will know all the information the state has required for the test. It can take fun and enjoyment out of the classroom, and substitute them with stress and worrying for both teachers and students.

People argue that standardized testing helps students to learn, and it helps the school evaluate their students. However, testing only stresses students out, and makes them dread school and think of it negatively. It could help the school evaluate students, but some students are bad test takers, or might just be having a bad day. The results are not always valid.

Standardized test only cause stress to students and teachers, and provide difficulty to teachers trying to fit in the full state mandated curriculum.