Standardized testing (also known as "high stakes" testing), is an assessment used to measure a student's performance. The objectives of standardized tests are to "induce teachers to set high standards, motivate students to learn what is being taught, recognize and reward them when they do, and assist in the sorting of students across different post-secondary programs and employment options  (Hamilton). If the goals are not met, then there are penalties issued upon the schools as well as the students. As times progressed, questions have arisen concerning whether standardized testing is an effective measuring tool of students' performance, or if it is accurate in determining whether the teachers are executing their duties well. This topic has become controversial; those who support standardized testing believe that these tests will motivate teachers, students, and schools to work hard to boost achievement. Those who oppose standardized testing believe that standardized testing puts less emphasis on "art, music, oral language, history, science, physical education, and even recess in many public schools, especially in low-performing, under-served schools (High Stakes Testing). Through a retrospective lens, standardized testing has been administered to students since the seventh century in china. It began when the government administered tests to students to determine the eligibility to enter the civil service. "Applicants were required to display knowledge of Confucian philosophy and to compose poetry" (Standardized Testing). In present day China, they are still required to take a test called the Gaokao, which assesses students on the knowledge they have acquired since preschool, in order for them to advance to higher education. This test is equivalent to the Scholastic Aptitude test (SAT) in the United States, which is required to advance to higher education. The history of standardized testing in the United States shows that standardized testing was used as a guide to set standards for success of the children as well as the country. "The initial development of these tests was based on the notion that they would allow for comparisons of individual differences in learning using more objective measures than grades or individual teacher or local assessment" (Learner Differences). The history began when a man named Horace Mann called for standardized testing of spelling, geography, and math in public schools. The reason for this action was because "The impacts of immigration and the Industrial Revolution meant that schools were taking in a large influx of students" (Standardized Testing). The launch of Sputnik in 1957 made the United States realize that they were falling behind the Soviet schools. This was a cause for concern because it made the United States believed that the Soviet Union had surpassed them. During the Reagan administration, the issue of American education began to arise when the report A Nation at Risk was released, it stated that the United States lacked rigorous standards and was failing and it also criticized the social promotion of students. In order for the United States to correct this problem, the Business Roundtable (BRT) initiated a campaign to return curriculum to the "so-called basics, such as phonics, [which] require schools to meet high standards, and be held accountable" (High Stakes Testing), these reforms were to be guided by experts from the business world who understood the economy. In 1998, Louisiana became the first state to administer a standardized test with penalties. Eventually this led to the implementation of standardized testing within the school curriculum throughout the United States. The weight of the penalties became more severe; the schools with the highest test scores received more funds and the schools with low scores received less funds or at times they were forced to shut down, or handed over to private managers. On January 8, 2002 George W. Bush issued the "No Child Left Behind" Act, which is related to the issue of standardized testing. This act mandated annual tests for public schools. Schools are required to show yearly- progress, if the standards are not met, then the school must provide assistance to their low performing students by providing free tutoring. If the pattern continues with low performing scores, the school will be forces to shut down or all the staffs will be replaced. The issue of adequate education continues to be a concern for this country because China continues to remain on top in all subject areas such as, math, science, and reading. While the United States ranked fourteenth in reading, seventeenth in science, and twenty-fifth in math out of sixty five countries. China is very competitive and has a strong intent to remain on top, while the United States have not shown any results to prove that they want to be number one. The United States have shown to perform low on standardized tests compared to other