Standardized assessment systems in Central America: A literature review

Abstract

Standardized assessments are summative tests of equal number of questions and a predetermined score to measure what is learned, in this case basic skills in reading and math. Some standardized tests are applied on a large scale, that is, in different countries and regions to compare their results, without considering the particularities of each learning context. The objective of this article is to describe the large-scale standardized assessment systems implemented in Central America and their implications for the concept of educational quality. A literature review identified that there is a direct impact between the international organizations that fund these international assessment systems and what countries expect their students to learn.