Standardized exams are not true detection of intelligence or knowledge because some people get very nervous and upset and do not test well. It is very easy to know content but to completely fail a test because you are nervous.

Most states require that a teach take an exam and if they do not pass, they cannot be certified to teach in a public school. The exam can only test content, it by no means, can identify whether or not someone will be a good teacher. Can they be abolished and guarantee that teachers will be knowledgeable and effective? Absolutely.

However, exams given in school to test basic knowledge of a chapter are necessary. There is less pressure with those tests and teachers should always offer different types of assessments that can help determine if a student has grasped the concepts.

Until someone comes up with a better way to measure achievement in a class, exams are the best tool.