Standardized test scores are used for a number of purposes. The SAT and ACT, two of the most famous standardized tests, factor into admission chances at many colleges and universities. Before that, though, most students are required to take yearly state-run standardized tests to move on to the next grade. Standardized test scores are also used to determine eligibility for various academic rewards, such as National Merit Scholarships and Advance Placement credits.
Widespread standardized testing in the United States began in 1926 with the creation of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT. It was joined by its modern-day counterpart, the ACT, in 1959. Various states experimented with their own standardized tests for grade schools and secondary schools after that, but it was not until the No Child Left Behind reform of 2001 that yearly standardized tests became mandatory.
Especially since they became mandatory in 2001, standardized tests have become a hot-button issue in education. Proponents of standardized testing say universal standards are the only way to test students fairly. Those opposed to the tests say that they test a student's ability to take tests more than actual knowledge. They also claim that the tests are unfair to disadvantaged students who have learned the material but have different needs than other students.