A Country Without Tests

In the late 1990s, the OECD put together a set of metrics to measure international student academic achievement called PISA. The mission is to identify which countries have the best educational system and what makes them so good. Among the top 5 ranking nations are China, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Finland. While most of these countries hail from Eastern Asia with a very industrialized idea of schooling, Finland Stands out. With every release of PISA rankings, Finland’s ranking inches closer to top 2. This is because between each Release, Finland searches for what the system can improve on and implements those changes.

 

First and foremost, Finland has removed all standardised testing from the curriculum. Too often teachers would teach enough for any student to pass the test and students would only memorize enough to not fail. The only standardised test is given and graded on an individual scale set by teachers. This test isn’t even mandatory. Beyond this, the OECD states that Finnish schools give out the least homework worldwide.

 

Second, many countries have prioritised core classes to land a higher ranking. This, however, seems to have had the opposite of the intended effect. Finland has instead made an effort to make schools far more equitable than other countries. This helps students feel like they aren’t pressured to excel at the core classes. In turn, this reduces stress and with less stress comes higher academic achievement.

 

Lastly, Schooling only becomes compulsory at age 7. This makes Finland the national equivalent to a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. “Where a kid can be a kid!” Even better, the school day typically starts from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM and ends from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM. Class periods are usually longer with longer breaks in between classes. This really brings home the idea that the system in place is not meant to cram kids with information, but rather to improve the quality of learning. 

 

Why is it that the US has an “average Ranking” on the OECD’s PISA chart? It’s because we don’t pay attention to what works. When reform is brought up, we tend to call it too good to be true regardless of whether or not the reform point in question has been demonstrated to actually work around the world.

 

Is it too good to be true?

Would you like reform resembling the Finish education system?

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  • I really like this topic Daniel! Your summary is good but I would like to see more of your thoughts within your summary. I'm glad you got up early this morning to comment to students! Be sure to comment on three different days next time.

  • I dont think that tests are a good measure for understanding because a lot of kids can memeorize everything they need to know and forget it right before they take the test.  I dont think tests should weigh as much on your grade when some people just arent good test-takers.

  • I do agree that most people only study enough for the test to get a passing grade. I do think this is a little too good to be true because it is a big change from what we are doing now. I think that it would be nice to have a shorter school day, get more time to actually learn the material, and not have to stress over tests. 

    • While I admire you thinking that it requires a big change to get something like this done and that's too much, I disagree. I think that what we need is a large change to improve our current system.

  • I think it is too good to be true. In addition, I think that not having tests changes everything in the ball game in the fourth quarter of whatever sports game you're playing.

    I would like to reform resemling the Finnish education system so that way it is like a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant: "Where a kid can be a kid". I think this will do good for the American economy.  

  • I think that having tests is good just for the teachers to know what the students know and don't know. But I think that some of the big tests should be taken away and it just makes people stress out more and we still have to deal with homework.

    • Finnish education include a system where teachers can have the same group of students for up to 5 years. This, along with hands on learning and the friendliest environment in the happiest country in the world , makes it so teachers don't have to give tests to know what students know.

  • I think that tests are okay but that semester tests shouldn't be a thing because then they have to remember everything from the few months before. I think that many people get anxiety from taking tests. Reforming the Finish education system would be alright but a test sometimes is definetely fine. 

  • I think tests aren't a good measure of knowledge for teachers. Some kids just memorize everything for the test and then forget it. Others may know everything and then get to the test and panic. I don't think it's fair to have the tests weigh so much on your grade when some kids are just not good test-takers. 

  • I feel like students just try to remember things for the test, once it's done and overwith they just forget about it. Allthough it's a good way to know a students understanding on the topic. I don't think it determines wheather a student is smart or not. Some students don't try but have a lot of knowlegde. Having test once in a while is good  but teacher need to do better at not overdoing test and also focuss more in making sure we all understand the subject. 

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