Standardized Tests: A Review

Testing has a huge impact on learners and educators, profoundly shaping the educational objectives of both. Hence, what we test and how we test it is a matter of great educational importance. Standardized tests, in particular multiple-choice examinations, are ubiquitous in medicine and offer many advantages, such as reliability, efficiency, and a certain kind of fairness. Yet they are also inherently limited, especially in terms of validity and their ability to promote and assess such crucial educational objectives as collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. At a time when educational assessment techniques in radiology are undergoing profound reexamination and reform, it is more important than ever that radiology educators understand the strengths and weaknesses of the standardized test.