This document explores some of the many alternatives to standardized testing within the education system. Additionally, this research helps the reader understand what standardized exams are, why they are used, and how educators can use other assessment methods to “test” children/students' abilities throughout the year. Some of these substitutions may include personal portfolios, developmental benchmarks, and a variety of understanding analyzes by recording several sessions. Additionally, this exhibit uses research from many different resources to support the importance, credibility, and objectivity of other assessment tools beyond standardized tests. By reading this text you will learn the pros and cons of uniform assessment implementations and why it is important for everyone's individual learning and development that standardized tests are no longer necessary. Alternatives to Standardized Testing There is nothing worse than asking students to summarize all of their knowledge, skills, thoughts, talents, and abilities in a multiple-choice test with one "right" answer. This is why assessments need to include more ways of evaluating students than a paper-and-pencil strategy that does not take into account the different skills of each student. This is one of the many reasons why standardized testing has undoubtedly been one of the most controversial topics in education to date. That said, there are alternatives to standardized testing that involve various opportunities including portable portfolios, performance exams, exhibits, and/or recorded sessions to better “test” a student’s knowledge and skills. What is standardized testing? "Standardized testing may be defined as any form of testing that (1) requires...... middle of paper ......ild. (8th ed.). Boston, MA:S4Carlisle Publishing Services.O' Malley, K. (2103). Standardized Testing: What Is It and How Does It Work? Retrieved from http://researchnetwork.pearson.com/college-career-success/standardized-testing-what-is-it-and-how- does-it-workPeterson, B. & Neill, M. (2014). Alternatives to Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/restrict.a sp?path=archive/13_03/assess. .shtmlPuckett, M., & Black, J. (2008). Meaningful Assessments of the Young Child. (3rd ed.): Pearson Education, Inc. Glossary of Education. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/What's wrong with standardized testing? (2012). /www.fairtest.org/facts/whatwron.htm