Purpose and Goals of High-Stakes Exams
The primary purposes of high-stakes exams are to measure student learning, validate individual merit through objective assessments, ensure accountability, and provide standardized metrics for comparative analysis. Policymakers and educators utilize these assessments to evaluate educational outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and uphold academic standards across schools and districts.
National standardized testing programs, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in the United States, aim to provide objective data on student achievement. This data informs education policy, resource allocation decisions, and helps identify students who excel based on measurable performance.