It is widely assumed that national tests, based on an agreed set of national education goals or standards, can serve as a one-stop reference point for student achievement, and for the ability of our schools to meet the needs of a complex modern society. The reality, for better or worse, is that there are no magic bullets or easy answers to complex questions.
Testing is already a part of the regular routine in public schools across the country.
But it's important to understand what tests can actually do, and to recognize that the absence of information on the characteristics of students in the schools taking part in national testing programs leads to misleading and damaging use of the data derived. As well, we must find ways of measuring to the extent possible the many types of student performance that are not fully captured by a national test. Advocates of national testing stress the need for an objective measure of school and student performance across Canada. They see national tests as the basis for comparing students' academic results across schools, school boards, provinces or territories, and nations. Their hope is that these comparisons will help lead to changes to ensure that students have the necessary skills to take their place in a competitive global marketplace.