I read an article last night and came across this...I really feel like I need to share this (thanks for the push, Mom). Take it as you will.
How can we explain the phenomenon of "high scores but low skills?" Standardized tests by their very nature can only test a subset of useful skills. As a result, while a well-balanced effort at improving skills helps raise the test score, it is usually not as effective as a more focused approach: teaching/studying to the test. There is evidence that drilling students on content known to be on a test can significantly improve the students' performance on the test, but the resulting high test scores do not necessarily translate into corresponding knowledge and skills.
Liu, L. Neilson, W.S. (2011). High scores but low skills. Economics of Education Review, 30, 507-516.
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