Unsurprisingly, schools are increasingly switching from traditional paper tests to digital ones. However, just because schools can make the switch doesn’t mean they should. Regarding student performance, equity, and learning outcomes, abandoning paper-based testing is a serious mistake.
The Equity Gap Will Widen
Digital testing may seem like a step forward, but for many students, it’s a setback. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, about 15% of U.S. households with school-age children don’t have a reliable internet connection. That number is significantly higher in low-income, rural, and minority communities. Students without consistent access to computers or the internet at home often struggle with basic digital literacy, which puts them at a disadvantage when taking online exams.
“There is a divide between paper testing and digital testing because some people don’t have the necessary internet access, and some people are more accustomed to testing on paper. They do their homework on paper, and the transition to doing testing online might be a little steeper. I think there should be a choice between paper and digital testing,” senior Ava Bechtel said.
Standardized tests are meant to measure knowledge and skills, not keyboard proficiency or tech access. If students from more privileged backgrounds are more comfortable navigating digital platforms, then the test no longer measures just academic ability; it also reflects socioeconomic status. This creates a hidden but very real form of educational discrimination.
Screens Hurt Focus and Comprehension
Digital testing changes how students read, process, and retain information. Numerous studies support the idea that comprehension suffers when reading on screens. A 2019 meta-analysis published in Educational Research Review found that students perform significantly worse on reading comprehension tests when reading digitally compared to reading on paper. The researchers found an average 6-8% decrease in comprehension on digital platforms.
“I prefer to do my testing on paper because I genuinely like to annotate and I’m a very disorganized person, so writing it all out helps me organize my thoughts. I think that testing on paper and all that is just more useful,” Bechtel said.
Screens are often harder on the eyes, encourage skimming, and make annotation or review more difficult. With paper tests, students can physically highlight, write in margins, and flip back and forth between questions and passages. These cues help with memory and focus. Digital tests often involve scrolling, clicking, and navigating between tabs, actions that can disrupt concentration and increase cognitive load.
Technology Isn’t Always Reliable
Even in well-funded districts, technology fails. A 2022 report by EDUCAUSE revealed that 77% of respondents reported having experienced one or more technology issues within the past academic year. For high-stakes exams, these disruptions can be devastating, adding stress and costing students time to test. More than half (51%) reported that these issues caused them stress.
Senior Ethan Sparks related to this struggle.
“Digital testing is stressful. Sometimes the clock, when they have it on digital testing, makes it more urgent, and I need time to think,” Sparks said.
Digital Fatigue Is Hurting Performance
Digital fatigue is a growing concern for today’s students. According to a 2022 Common Sense Media report, teenagers spend an average of over eight hours per day on screens. Prolonged screen time has been linked to headaches, eye strain, reduced attention spans, and lower sleep quality, all of which negatively impact test performance.
In this context, paper-based tests offer a break from digital overload. They allow for a more focused, grounded testing experience that aligns better with students’ cognitive rhythms. For students already exhausted from online learning, switching everything to a digital format only adds to their mental load.
Typing Is Not a Universal Skill
Advocates for digital testing often argue that it prepares students for the modern workplace, where typing is a daily activity. However, this argument overlooks the fact that not all students have learned to type efficiently. Younger students, in particular, may struggle to express themselves well on a keyboard, even if they can articulate their thoughts clearly on paper.
A 2006 study by the Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment found that students with computer familiarity significantly predicted online writing test performance after controlling for paper writing skill. These results suggest that, for any given individual, a computer-based writing assessment may produce different results than a paper one, depending on that individual’s level of computer familiarity.
“I personally like paper testing more than digital testing because with paper tests, I can see everything more clearly, and it’s easy for me to go back and change stuff. Also, I believe I write faster than I can type, because it’s just easier for me,” sophomore Kate Wheeler said.
When test performance is influenced by keyboard skills rather than subject knowledge, individuals risk misrepresenting students’ true abilities.
The Solution
Digital tools have enhanced learning in many ways, but when it comes to high-stakes assessments, paper still has clear equity, reliability, and cognitive performance advantages. Rather than rushing to eliminate paper, schools should consider hybrid models that allow students to choose the best format. This approach maintains fairness, gives students more control, and ensures that tests measure what they’re supposed to, knowledge and understanding. Schools should think twice before going fully digital. Convenience and cost saving cannot come at the expense of student success.
