Question: what type of thinking do standardized tests in schools measure

title: Standardized test
text: One of the main advantages of standardized testing is that the results can be empirically documented ; therefore , the test scores can be shown to have a relative degree of validity and reliability , as well as results which are generalizable and replicable . This is often contrasted with grades on a school transcript , which are assigned by individual teachers . It may be difficult to account for differences in educational culture across schools , difficulty of a given teacher 's curriculum , differences in teaching style , and techniques and biases that affect grading . This makes standardized tests useful for admissions purposes in higher education , where a school is trying to compare students from across the nation or across the world . Examples of such international benchmark tests include the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMMS ) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study ( PIRLS ) . Performance on these exams have been speculated to change based on the way standards like the Common Core State Standards ( CCSS ) line up with top countries across the world .