Testing Reality: With the increasing use of AI, old-fashioned testing is critical

My classmates are talking and laughing obnoxiously. Despite there being a 45-minute assignment to complete.

They all say the same thing when I ask why they’re not finishing the assignment in class: “I’ll do it at home.”

But that’s code for “I’ll use ChatGPT at home.”

The reliance on artificial intelligence for completing classwork has escalated. As the year progresses, so does the pervasiveness of AI. I’ve been troubled seeing how many students rely on AI to complete their assignments in all seven of my classes. It makes me feel like students aren’t learning.

Tests, where students don’t have access to AI, are more critical than ever for student learning.

Research published on Oct. 6 finds AI to be “more prevalent than ever in America’s high schools,” with the number of students using AI for schoolwork increasing 5% between January and May, according to College Board.

Because of the reliance on AI to complete take-home assignments, teachers can’t accurately assess whether students are learning. Even if students perform well on assigned tasks, they may not be comprehending the topic.

AI is easy, quick and mindless. But tests are tests. They leave no other option but to study.

Studying for tests means achieving a deeper understanding of problem-solving skills, good study habits and the ability to tackle challenges. All of which require various brain pathways to work together, while AI actually slows down the brain.

According to a study in June by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, participants who didn’t use ChatGPT or a search engine while writing an essay showed the strongest “neural connectivity” compared to those who used AI. Using AI caused a progressive loss of brain connections in the study.

In a real job, there will be split-second decisions to be made under pressure in a stressful environment — just like a test when you have to perform in a certain amount of time. School education is structured to help us with this. But AI has interfered with learning so dramatically that curricula haven’t adapted to circumvent this intrusion.

It’s up to students and teachers to do the right thing and genuinely study without using the AI shortcut. After all, I’d rather have a pilot who passed a comprehensive test on weather patterns and meteorology concepts than one who drearily relied on AI for assignments.

Additionally, according to Opportunity Insights, “high school GPA does a poor job of predicting academic success in college,” and “students with higher SAT/ACT scores are more likely to have higher college GPAs than their peers with lower SAT/ACT scores.”

That’s why some schools, according to FutureEd, like Brown, Stanford and Harvard, reverted to requiring test scores after many colleges went test-optional during COVID-19.

Every high school student has heard the words “tests don’t define you.”

True, but dismissive.

I took the PSAT three weeks ago. Regardless of my score, the process of studying for the test and putting myself under pressure during the test are key reasons why tests are important. It’s about the process, not just the score.

Now imagine a high school without tests. In my philosophy class, this was about to be the reality. There still would’ve been two semester finals for the class, but no unit quizzes or tests. Except, seniors who took philosophy last year regretted not having tests. They felt as if they didn’t retain information without benchmarks to check in on concepts.

So, a month ago, my class had our first quiz over Unit 1. I’m not saying that I enjoyed taking the quiz, but it forced me to review my notes and revisit concepts from various philosophers. It forced me to learn.

AI is unavoidable. It’s everywhere, and it does have a place in education. It can be used to clarify concepts and summarize information, but we must be able to think and problem-solve independently.

Tests are an objective way to learn and assess progress. While tests aren’t a flawless way of assessing a student's knowledge, they hold an irreplaceable position in our education system.

Testing needs to stay.