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The artist’s note describes adapting SAT-style multiple-choice questions to expose ambiguities and the power dynamics behind assessment. The performance procedure stages a timed, computer-directed SAT experience, pairing it with a passage from John Dewey’s Art as Experience to highlight “teach to the test” effects on critical inquiry.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":15,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/literature/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/testing-the-test-the-cutting-edge/266707/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/testing-the-test-the-cutting-edge/266707.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Connor ","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":44},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What criticism does the artist make about standardized English tests?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"They argue that test reading removes reflection, turning passages into hoops for strategies like keywords and timed performance. The tests also enforce a single “correct” perspective while treating other interpretations as wrong.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does the satirical exam mimic the SAT experience?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It follows a similar SAT format, uses official-style computer instructions, and includes a countdown timer that accelerates. The questions are adapted from legitimate SAT items but reworked to highlight problems with multiple-choice reading assessments.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Why is John Dewey’s text used as the exam passage?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The passage discusses criticism, perception, and the authority of those who judge texts. It supports the satirical parallel to test-makers, showing how high-stakes, sterile assessment can undermine thoughtful inquiry and critical meaning.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},266707,1790136823,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":14,"category_name":15,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":44,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":24,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":39},687207022233,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Testing the Test  \nKate Ham  \nStanford University  \nArtist’s Note:  \nDid you ever used to love reading, but then you didn’t? I remember my avid childhood reading days, but I also remember how standardized English tests never let me look at a literary passage the same way again. Reading a passage for a test does not require any reflection; as a test-taker, one is concerned with what hoops to jump through and that is all—the time per question, employing strategies and identifying keywords, memorizing vocabulary, and more. Testing sucked dry much of the enjoyment I had in reading, and the more time we spent testing in class, the further disillusioned I became. Even “reading for pleasure”was difficult because I was programmed to think of reading as a game.  \nPerhaps more detrimental is the singular perspective upheld by the test-makers. Consider that every person reads and perceives a text in a different way, and even this perception changes every day. Yet the testmakers have the power to declare one perspective as “correct” and the rest as “wrong.” This is especially concerning when the test is poorly designed, such as having multiple arguably correct answers or using unnecessarily tricky questions. The standardized testing industry is the largest holder of this power, and its pervasiveness and economic presence leave it relatively unchallenged.  \nTo challenge the standardized testing industry, I’ve devised a satirical portion of a fake reading exam modelled after the SAT Reading sections, which I consider the epitome of reading exams. The format is designed to closely resemble that of the SAT in order to invoke the same mindset one employs when confronted with a test. In my performance I included the official SAT instructions read by a computer and a countdown timer that deceivingly doubled in speed every minute. Upon closer examination, my test will seem sarcastic in comparison. The questions are almost exactly adapted from legitimate SAT questions, yet the answers are crafted to emphasize the problems with multiple choice assessments of reading passages. Many invoke the same strategies of official exams—including logically deliberating answer choices, intentionally confusing wordplay, and ambiguous interpretation—but turn them on their heads while still making sense within the context of the passage. The question about “main purpose” even quotes official SAT learning objectives.  \nThe passage was also chosen carefully. The text comes from education philosopher John Dewey’s Art as Experience in his chapter“Criticism and Perception”, where Dewey highlights the dangers of those who judge and their authority, which I liken to the test-makers. When he asserts “an audience that is itself habituated to being told, rather than schooled in thoughtful inquiry, likes to be told”, I could not help but think of the millions of students who take these tests, especially in struggling schools where teachers must “teach to the test,” effectively destroying any critical thought against the elitist interpretation of the test-makers. The unfortunate irony is that the text’s placement in this high-stakes, sterile exam devalues it, as students dismiss its meaning to efficiently answer the test questions. In this way, one can argue that such a “reading comprehension” section can barely live up to its name.  \n2  \nThe Cutting Edge, Vol 2, No 1 (2018)  \nProcedure:  \nThe exam is passed out to all members of the audience; this should be done in silence as to remove any humanity from the performance. The modified electronic timer is clearly displayed. The timer begins when prompted by the following text, as read by a computer:  \nGood morning. Today you are going to take the SAT. This is your chance to show how prepared you are for college and career.  \nDo not begin work until I tell you to. If you finish before time is called, you may NOT turn to any other section. Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet. Keep your answer sheet, test book and translated te","cbCaimhfhL0HAN1k","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimhfhL0HAN1k","pdf",206095,"English","# Artist’s Note\n## Critique of Standardized Tests\n## Satirical Fake Reading Exam\n## Selected Passage (John Dewey)\n# Procedure\n## Performance Setup and Instructions\n## Test Start and Question Prompt","[{\"question\":\"What criticism does the artist make about standardized English tests?\",\"answer\":\"They argue that test reading removes reflection, turning passages into hoops for strategies like keywords and timed performance. The tests also enforce a single “correct” perspective while treating other interpretations as wrong.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the satirical exam mimic the SAT experience?\",\"answer\":\"It follows a similar SAT format, uses official-style computer instructions, and includes a countdown timer that accelerates. The questions are adapted from legitimate SAT items but reworked to highlight problems with multiple-choice reading assessments.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is John Dewey’s text used as the exam passage?\",\"answer\":\"The passage discusses criticism, perception, and the authority of those who judge texts. It supports the satirical parallel to test-makers, showing how high-stakes, sterile assessment can undermine thoughtful inquiry and critical meaning.\"}]","Testing the Test - The Cutting Edge | PDF",1789410900]