The use of standardized tests is not something new. Everyone should know their importance and the emphasis placed on them, along with the stress that comes with it. There are multiple choice tests, high stakes tests and the dreaded time limited tests. It's true that not all tests are the same; however, each of these tests has serious flaws. Standardized tests are unfair because they fail to measure students' abilities, they cause an unnecessary amount of stress, and there are too many incentives to teach the test. As one Bert Lance said, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.” .” This is how many people feel about standardized testing. To them, tests appear to be a reliable and harmless way to measure students' skills. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from June-July 2014 found that 93 percent of parents say standardized tests "should be used to identify areas where students need additional help" and the 61% say their children “take an adequate number of standardized tests.” The problem with these statistics is that parents don't know the direct effects of standardized tests, so how would they know the flaws of the tests and the harm they cause? According to educator Bill Ayers, “Standardized testing ignores most tests.” important characteristics of being a good student or a good person. “What they can measure and count,” he says, “are isolated skills, specific facts and functions, the least interesting and least meaningful aspects of learning” (Pollard). students answer the same questions under the same conditions, which results in quick and superficial answers, because all students reason and process differently. Standardized tests treat students as if they were all identical. ...teachers destructively tailor their curriculum to fit the test just to ensure good test scores and keep their jobs. All of these factors help explain why standardized tests are unfair. Equity means everyone gets what they need, and standardized tests still have to uphold this standard. Works CitedEvans, Jasmine. “Problems with Standardized Testing.” Problems with standardized tests. Education.com, November 4, 2013. Web. December 3, 2014. McGowan, Sarah. “The Stress Test: How Today's Standardized Tests Affect Health, Performance, and School Culture.” TEENAGE TRUTH. Teen Truth, April 24, 2013. Web. December 5, 2014. Pollard, Jonathan. “Standardized Testing: The Worst Tests.” Standardized tests: the worst tests. World Prosperity and the Web. December 05, 2014.Ruby, Megan. “Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing.” Prezi.com. Prezi, 7 December 2014. Web. 9 December. 2014.