What does a test really do?

Test have changed the meaning of education. In chapter chapter 23 Mr. Wong states something that all effective teachers will agree with, "test are given to find out if the students have accomplished the objectives of the assignment." With that being said it is important to remind teachers that test are not made "to remind students whether they are smart, average, or dumb"; test are created to help the teacher understand where the student stands and what must be done so that the child is where he needs to be academically wise. A test should help the teacher "remediate and correct for student mastery" and "students should be graded on a percentage system where they are to only compete against themselves" and strive to be better than they were yesterday! An effective teacher writes a test  when writing objectives because every test question comes from one objective. Now not every student will master every topic covered and that is definitely okay! As teachers, we know that every child is different and every child has a different learning style, but that doesn't mean we are not going to take action and offer corrective help to students. A way to help a student master a certain objective, after failing a test, is to take a different approach. A different approach meaning a different explanation or the addition of objects that fit the students learning style. Teachers " you are teaching for accomplishment, and you want everyone to succeed", use test as tools not as enemies.

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/academic/tesol/WJFiles/pdf/Perrone_Forum.pdf
http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/testing/
http://www.teachhub.com/top-12-ways-rev-classroom-review-strategies