Why do we have timed tests? asks Adam Grant (University of Pennsylvania) in this New York Times article. Because many educators believe that speed is a sign of students’ aptitude and mastery. In fact, says Grant, completing a test more quickly isn’t an accurate measure of knowledge or intelligence; it assesses the much narrower skill of how well students perform under stress. Time pressure means we’re underestimating how well many students are actually doing.
What’s the hurry? We wouldn’t consider a surgeon more proficient for finishing an operation quickly, or an accountant more trustworthy for galloping through our tax returns. “Although it pays to be quick,” says Grant, “it also pays to be determined, disciplined, and dependable.” Time pressure rewards students who think fast and shallow “ and punishes those who think slow and deep.” So why should being able to zip through a ninth-grade algebra test be rewarded with a higher grade and taken as a sign that a student is smart?
Time pressure can also trigger stereotype threat. There’s a gender gap on math tests involving mentally rotating 3-D shapes “ boys usually do better than girls. But when the test is untimed, the gap is significantly reduced. That’s because girls taking math tests are dealing with the incorrect societal belief that they aren’t as good at the subject, and with pressure, stereotype threat is exacerbated, draining working memory and making them more prone to errors.
The same dynamic can kick in with any student who has doubts about their ability, including students of color, English learners, and those with learning disabilities. Without time pressure, these students can rethink their approaches, double-check answers, and feel more comfortable making educated guesses, achieving to their true potential.
Grant says that in recent years, there’s been an “arms race” with some parents demanding additional time as a test accommodation because their children have specific learning disabilities. Why not give all students more time, says Grant, leveling the playing field for anyone whose performance is undermined by the pressure to finish more quickly.
Significantly, the SAT recently decided to make the test shorter so almost all students can finish each section with time to spare. Teachers should take the same approach with classroom tests, says Grant: “If a significant number of the students run out of time, it means the test is too long or the time period is too short.”
“In school,” he concludes, “timed tests teach kids that success is a sprint. But in life, success is a marathon. Wisdom is less about the speed of thought than the complexity of thinking. The students with the greatest potential aren’t always the ones who can rapidly spit out the right answers. They’re often the ones who take the time to ask the right questions.”
“Timed Tests Are Biased Against Your Kids” by Adam Grant in The New York Times, September 22, 2023
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