As State High students move through the testing season, many have noticed that test after test is completed on the computer. Whether it be a MAP test or the SAT, every standardized test is now computer-based as part of a district-wide effort to computerize all standardized tests by 2026.

Streamlining computerized testing can make test administration and collection easier, but there are some concerns that testing online is more difficult for students.  Most standardized tests last around two hours, and many students find it difficult and tiring to sit in front of a computer for this duration. 

Spending at least two hours on a computer with few breaks can lead to students feeling screen fatigue. Studies have shown that people, on average, blink a third less than usual while on a screen. Screen fatigue can come from a combination of this and eye strain, and can lead to exhaustion, blurred vision, and decreased concentration. These factors can make online testing more difficult for students.

“I feel like I do a lot better when the tests are on paper. Like, especially for standardized testing because they’re so long. After a while, it’s very hard for me to focus on the screen,” freshman Charlotte Morales said.

To help concentration while on the computer, doctors recommend taking short breaks every 20 minutes. However, on many standardized tests, few or no breaks are allowed for students without prior accommodations.

Literature or English exams can be even more difficult to take on the computer. Most literature exams require students to read passages. Because a computer display is made of lots of tiny pixels, a person’s eyes are constantly refocusing while reading off a screen. This can increase eye strain and make reading off a screen difficult. 

In addition, studies have shown that students have decreased comprehension and levels of understanding when reading on a screen vs. a paper printout. This is especially important to consider when administering computerized literature tests. It is not possible to accurately assess a student’s understanding of a passage when it is being read off a screen, a medium proven to decrease reading comprehension.

After taking the online literature keystones, sophomore Cadence Amos said, “It was really difficult to track where you were reading…I would have much rather had the passages on paper so we could also have marked them up.” 

Freshman Zara Woodman said a solution to this may be hybridized testing to maximize efficiency while reducing the risk of screen fatigue and distractibility: “…Free response is online, and then multiple choice would be on paper.”

Some people may believe that shifting to computerized tests can decrease the costs of testing because it does not require as many printed materials or test booklets. However, in many cases, shifting to online testing can be more expensive than paper. Online testing requires school districts to pay for computers for every student on test day, not to mention the expenses of providing IT support and paying for five different testing applications.

Administering standardized tests on paper vs. on a screen makes it easier for students to focus, increases comprehension, decreases the risk of eye strain, may be less expensive, and can more accurately assess students’ abilities. Rather than shifting to online testing, SCASD should stick with paper testing, or at least provide students with the option.