welve-year-old Winston Lim of Singapore waits nervously for the
;sults of an examination that will determine which secondary school
ne can attend. American Mark Saunder's goes to class every Saturday to
Prepare for his university entrance examination. Like Winston and Mark,
almost
everyone in school takes tests. They are a regular part of education,
and they often have a significant impact on people's lives. Tests measure
how much people know or what thev can do. Examinations are given at
all levels of education, from primary school to university. In classrooms,
teachers write the tests and give them to their classes. Other kinds of tests
are standardized. They are usually written by testing experts. In some
countries like Singapore, standardized testing begins very early. Every
Singaporean takes a standardized test at the age of 11. Other countries,
such as Italy, begin standardized testing after two or three years of second-
ary school.
Sle
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