* Early forms of testing: Ancient China used examinations for civil service selection, which can be considered a precursor to standardized testing.
* James McKeen Cattell: A pioneer in the field of psychology, Cattell's work in the late 19th century on measuring individual differences laid groundwork for standardized testing.
* Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon: Developed the first widely used intelligence test (the Binet-Simon scale) in the early 20th century, which heavily influenced subsequent tests.
* Colleges and Universities: Institutions of higher learning played a critical role in developing and implementing standardized admissions tests like the SAT and ACT. The College Board, a non-profit organization, administers the SAT. A consortium of universities developed the ACT.
* Educational Testing Service (ETS): This major testing organization develops and administers many standardized tests, including the SAT, GRE, and TOEFL.
* Numerous Psychometricians and Researchers: Many individuals have contributed to the development of testing methodologies, statistical analysis techniques, and test design principles.
In short, standardized tests are a product of a long history of development and refinement by numerous individuals and organizations, with no single creator.