* Provide a measure of student achievement and school performance.
* Help identify students who need additional support.
* Can be used to compare schools and districts.
* Motivate students to learn and improve their academic performance.
* Foster accountability and help ensure that students are meeting state standards.
Cons:
* Can be stressful for students and teachers.
* Can narrow the curriculum and teaching methods, as teachers focus on teaching material that will be tested.
* May not be a fair or accurate measure of student achievement, as they can be biased against certain groups of students.
* Can lead to teaching to the test, rather than teaching students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life.
* Can be used for high-stakes purposes, such as determining whether a student moves on to the next grade level or is eligible for a particular program.