Make It Make Sense Monday: What Do Standardized Tests Actually Measure?

Welcome to our very first Make It Make Sense Monday!

This is where we’re going to take the school things that make parents think, “Wait, what?” and break them down in a way that actually makes sense. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear explanations, practical takeaways, and hopefully a few moments where things finally click.

Around here, we’re building understanding, creating connections, and helping parents feel more confident navigating all of this without feeling overwhelmed or out of the loop.

What Do Standardized Tests Actually Measure?

Since a lot of schools are in the middle of state testing right now, this feels like a good place to start this series.

Special shoutout to my New Jersey ed fam: Happy NJSLA season!

Standardized tests tend to bring up a lot of questions for parents. What do the scores mean? How seriously should I take them? Why do we even do this?

So. Let’s make this make sense.

What these tests are really about

At a basic level, standardized tests are designed to measure how well students can apply certain skills, usually reading, writing, math, and sometimes science, in a structured, timed setting.

They are not measuring how smart a child is. They are not measuring effort, personality, creativity, or growth over time.

They are measuring how a student performs on that specific set of tasks, on that specific day.

That’s important. It's also only part of the story.

Why schools use them

When they are used well, standardized tests can give schools and districts a broader view of how students are doing across classrooms, grades, and even schools.

They can highlight patterns, strengths, and gaps that are harder to see from day-to-day classroom work alone. That information can help guide instruction, curriculum decisions, and where support is needed most.

That part matters.

What impacts your child’s performance

A lot goes into a student’s performance on any given test:

• Reading comprehension

• Vocabulary

• Stamina

• Familiarity with the format

• Ability to stay focused

Even how a child is feeling that day - All of that matters!

This is why you might see a child who does well in class struggle on a test, or a child who seems to struggle day-to-day perform well on one.

The testing environment is just one piece of a much bigger picture.

Why reading skills matter everywhere

In reading, especially, these tests are not just asking students to read words. They’re asking them to read complex texts, hold onto information, make inferences, understand vocabulary in context, and explain their thinking.

That’s a lot happening at once.

Reading also plays a huge role in the math sections. Students have to make sense of multi-step word problems, understand academic language, and figure out what the question is even asking before they can solve it.

When we talk about reading skills, we’re really talking about access to everything else.

How to think about scores

So when you get a score, think of it as a snapshot.

Not a label. Not a final judgment. A snapshot.

It can give you useful information. It can point to areas of strength or areas that might need support. It should always be considered alongside everything else you know about your child as a learner.

What you can do as a parent

Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep. Keep routines as normal as possible. Encourage them to try their best, and do not put extra pressure on the outcome.

After the test, let it go.

One test is not the story of their learning.

What to avoid

• Avoid overreacting to a single score.

• Avoid comparing your child to others.

• Avoid turning testing into something bigger or scarier than it needs to be.

Quick story time. You can't make this up.

When I was a kid, back in the olden days, rushed breakfasts were pretty standard - Pretty much whatever we had time for before the microwave clock read 7:42, which meant my brother and I had to book it to get to school on time.

Testing days felt different. The school would remind parents how important a good breakfast was, especially protein.

And listen, I’m sure we had eggs plenty of other times.

I distinctly remember that during testing week, we had eggs every single morning.

For years, I couldn’t stand eggs. Full aversion. They made me feel nervous and nauseous, and I never really knew why.

Later, I realized I had somehow connected that breakfast to the pressure of standardized testing in the 80s. In NJ, it was the IOWAs, for anyone else who remembers.

Once I made that connection, it lost its power.

I’m happy to report I can now eat eggs again and remain no more anxious than I was when I started.

That’s the kind of association we want to avoid - Testing should not feel like a high-stakes, high-pressure event in a child’s mind.

What I tell my own kids

When my own daughters take the NJSLA, what I say to them every year before the first day of testing is some version of this:

“This test is mostly important because it gives the school district an idea of what’s working and what’s not, full stop. This test does not define you. It does not determine whether you move to the next grade level, and it definitely does not measure how smart, creative, or wonderful you are. Do not stress. Just do your best because you deserve to show off and celebrate what you've learned. Make yourself proud no matter what.”

That’s it.

That’s the energy.

Quick answers to common questions

Do these tests determine promotion or retention?

In New Jersey, no. They are not used to decide whether a child moves to the next grade.

Should I be worried if my child doesn’t score “proficient”?

Not based on one test alone. Look for patterns over time and talk with your child’s teacher.

What matters more, classroom performance or test scores?

Both matter. Neither one, on its own, tells the full story.

Standardized tests are a tool.

When used well, the data can actually help schools make better decisions for students.

They are never the whole picture.

If you have questions about testing, drop them here. I’m happy to break things down.

If there’s something you’ve always wondered about how schools work, let me know. It could inspire a future Make It Make Sense Monday!

Up next, we’ll get into something parents hear all the time: What it actually means when a child is “reading on grade level.”

See you next Monday. We’ll make that one make sense.