groupon waikiki catamaran

MAITAʻI CATAMARAN

The amazing Maitaʻi Catamaran is an ocean adventure, sight-seeing tour and party all in one. This “state of the art”, twin hulled, 45 foot catamaran seats 49 passengers comfortably. United States Coast Guard inspected and certified, the Maita’i is ultra-safe and a great time for the entire family.

Maitaʻi offers a variety of sailings for you to choose from. Enjoy the Island sun and scenery on one of our Tradewind sails. Watch the Oahu coast roll by as the wind fills the sails on a journey you’ll remember a lifetime.

Looking for something a bit more romantic? Try our Sunset Maitai Sail or Maita’i Fireworks Sail. Have a Maitai or one of the other refreshments from our bar while you watch the sun or moon set slowly into the horizon, closing another wonderful day in paradise.

You may also book one of our Exclusive Charters available with an open bar. Maita’i is always available for private use for weddings, receptions, parties, family gatherings, memorial services and many other special needs. Check our Sail with Us page for details.

Advance reservations are necessary with a pre-approved voucher or deposit.

MAITAʻI IS A TAHITIAN WORD MEANING "EXCELLENCE". YOU'LL CALL IT FUN!

Tradewind Sail

Pure exhilaration with the wind and waves off Waikiki as your engine.

• Departures at 11:00am & 1:00pm

Afternoon Delite Sail

Our Newest Sail! Pure exhilaration with the wind and waves off Waikiki as your engine.

• Departs at 3:00pm

Sunset Mai Tai Sail

This is one Mai Tai you’ll remember, but bring your  camera anyway!

• Departs at 5:00pm

Friday Night Fireworks Sail

Experience fireworks on the sea with drinks, charming crew, and a 90-minute adventure.

RAPID RIDE ON OUR TRADEWIND SAIL

TOUR FEATURED IMAGES

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Maita'i Catamaran

Come aboard the Maita'i Catamaran for an ocean adventure unlike any other. Sailing daily along Waikiki Beach on Oahu's beautiful south shore, this is a fun sightseeing cruise and party all in one! Enjoy spectacular photo opportunities with views of Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head. Relax on the spacious sundeck while sipping a refreshing beverage of your choice (e.g. beer, tropical cocktail, wine, juice or soft drink).

The Maita'i is a state-of-the-art 44-foot catamaran that seats 47 passengers comfortably. It is United States Coast Guard inspected and certified. Choose from the following four Oahu sailing adventures.

Tradewinds Sail

Experience a classic sailing adventure along Waikiki Beach. This tradewinds sail shows you what the modern and ultra-sleek Maita'i catamaran can do! The wind and waves rush by while you enjoy the spectacular views of Waikiki and Diamond Head. Unwind with a tropical drink, enjoy the ocean breeze and look out for marine life, including turtles and humpback whales during the winter whale watch season.

Sunset Sail

Looking for something a bit more romantic? Then come aboard for Maita'i Catamaran's sunset sail. Leave your shoes behind, barefoot board right on Waikiki Beach, sail out through the surf line and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. Sit back and enjoy the island's beauty and watch the sun dip below the horizon coloring the ocean and sky in a rainbow of colors. Sip a beer, wine or tropical cocktail while marveling at Oahu's scenic south shore.

Friday Fireworks Sail

Sail by the light of the moon while the stars guide your way on this romantic evening sail along Waikiki Beach. Enjoy the views of the city night lights in the distance as you glide across the deep blue sea with Mahina (Hawaiian for "moon"). It's a feeling unlike any other! This sail comes complete with the usual beverages, but with the magical night sky as the backdrop. With this tour running only on Fridays (and other special nights), it's the perfect way to watch Waikiki's Friday night fireworks.

PLEASE NOTE: We operate RAIN or SHINE.

NA HOKU 2 & NA HOKU 3

Sailing adventures in hawaii, sailing adventures in honolulu, hawaii.

Na Hoku 2 departs from Kewalo Harbor

Sailing Adventures in Waikiki, Hawaii

Na Hoku 3 departs directly from Waikiki Beach

THE BIG YELLOW CATAMARAN ON WAIKIKI BEACH!

• Most Popular!
• Hour Glass 1 hour
• Users All ages

Diamond Head Sail (WAIKIKI)

Explore Diamond Head on this fun-filled sailing adventure! Set sail on the high seas and enjoy complimentary beverages of all kinds, great views of Waikiki, and maybe a splash or two!

• Hour Glass 1.5 hours

Sunset Sail (WAIKIKI)

Navigate the seas of joy aboard our Waikiki sunset sail! Our Sunset Sail tour is a fun and wild 90-minute sail where all drinks are complimentary!

SAIL FROM KEWALO BASIN HARBOR

• Hour Glass 90 minutes

South Shore Open Sail (HARBOR)

Embark on a high-seas journey with complimentary drinks, breathtaking Waikiki views, and the possibility of a refreshing splash or two!

Sunset Sail (HARBOR)

Sail into the sunset with this Waikiki adventure cruise! Come enjoy a perfect sea breeze and a Maitai while shaking your hips to great music. Drinks are complimentary!

Friday Night Fireworks (HARBOR)

Enjoy complimentary beers and cocktails while you experience The Hilton’s Friday night fireworks display from a big yellow and red catamaran!

ABOUT NA HOKU 3 & 2 CATAMARANS

NA HOKU 3 is our brand new catamaran located in front of Duke’s Restaurant, departing directly off of the sandy shores of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Oahu.

NA HOKU 2 has retired from the beach and is now located at Kewalo Basin Harbor Slip F23!

Our breezy adventure cruises include complimentary drinks and will take you to the most beautiful spots, where you can marvel at Diamond Head or see an amazing Hawaiian sunset. With seating for up to 49 guests, including a splash action net area, get ready for some fun – you will likely get splashed! Sail beautiful seas while singing along to great music and sipping on our famous cocktails! You can even enjoy a beer from our sponsors, Pacifico and Modelo! Our team is at your service to keep you smiling all day!

Our catamarans are both USCG Certified Vessel.

RATED 4.5 STARS ON TRIPADVISOR!

They have this operation dialed in. It is short but very sweet. The open bar and fun, yet competent, staff makes for good times on the water. The views are great, they have good music going, and it is fun meeting other folks on board. Definitely check it out!

What a wonderful experience! The crew was friendly and fun. The drinks were tasty and plentiful. The sunset was gorgeous and the moonrise was a terrific bonus. I highly recommend!

This was a great experience. This sail is very calm and relaxing and a completely different experience from the trade wind sails, where you expect to get tossed around and get wet. The crew was very friendly and attentive. The sunset was gorgeous, even though it was overcast all day. My wife and I now prefer this sail over the trade winds sails we have done in the past. Great sail!

My friend was visiting me on the island and we both loved this experience! The crew is so refreshing and fun! It was a mix of young and old! It was a great time! Would definitely recommend!

This is the best deal in Waikiki. Was there for a week and went on this cruise three times. ~$30 for one hour sail with open bar. So, you can sit in a hotel bar and nurse one drink or be on the ocean enjoying amazing views, listen to lively music and chug down multiple drinks. No brainer. Shout out to Dustin for the amazing sailing experience.

This was a total blast! The guys running the boat were friendly and entertaining. The sites were phenomenal. The sea life is gorgeous. And the drinks were very good. I booked a second trip, can’t wait to sale again!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP.

Our policies.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Guests will receive a full refund only with a minimum 24-hour notice of cancellation. Full refunds are also issued in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

During the slower seasons and typically the morning sails, tour cancellations can occur due to a minimum requirement of 6 booked guests. In these rare situations, guests are always given the option to rebook or refund. If you are concerned about your tour, please call with any questions.

Guests wishing to rebook or reschedule must give 24 hours notice. Contact us by phone directly to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows and guests canceling within 24 hours of departure will be charged full price .*Groups of 20 or larger are required to give 72-hour notice to cancel or modify bookings.

Pink Sails Waikiki

Catamaran sailing tours in honolulu, hawaii, choose your pink sails waikiki adventure.

• Most Popular!
• User All Ages
• Hour Glass 2 Hour

Turtle Snorkeling Adventure

Explore the world-famous Waikiki “Turtle Canyon” in shallow, inner, coral reefs and be amazed at the underwater world that lives just offshore of Waikiki Beach on Oahu!

• Hour Glass 2 - 2.5 Hour

Sunset Splash & Sail

Enjoy the beauty of a sunset cruise in Waikiki! Whether you’re with your family, friends, or a loved one, a Hawaiian sunset is even more amazing from the water.

• Hour Glass 1.5 - 2 Hour

Friday Night Fireworks

Experience the best seats in the house as we get up close and personal with the brilliant colors of Waikiki’s Friday Night Fireworks Show. There’s no better view of this magnificent aerial display than from out on the water with the Waikiki skyline as the backdrop.

Whale Watching

Experience the thrill of watching majestic Humpback Whales frolic in the beautiful waters off of Waikiki as our guides educate you on their migration habits, their behaviors, and other fun facts. This Oahu tour is available from December 15th through April 15th.

• Hour Glass 3 Hour , 2 Hour

Private Charters

Experience your dream Hawaii vacation aboard one of our private boat charters in Waikiki. Enjoy a personalized itinerary and have the boat all to yourself to explore the beauty of the island waters and its native wildlife.

A unique experience with a fun crew

Welcome to Pink Sails Waikiki, where adventure and relaxation collide on the sparkling waters of Hawaii! As the premier provider of Waikiki catamaran sailing tours, we offer a one-of-a-kind experience that combines the thrill of sailing with the breathtaking beauty of Oahu’s coastline. Join us for a fun-filled and professional journey, where the pink sails take you on an unforgettable tropical escapade.

Choose your preferred vessel and book your unforgettable cruise

Follow us and get excited for your pink sails experience, did you know that we also offer sailing lessons at our school, pink sails waikiki voted among top 10% best activities in the world, experience a day in paradise with pink sails waikiki ★★★★★.

What an amazing experience. The staff was wonderful and went above and beyond our expectations. I highly recommend Pink Sails Waikiki when visiting the islands. This is a must do experience.

I have taken multiple sunset tours in Hawaii. None of them let you swim. This was amazing. My kids and I swam in the ocean, we saw turtles and seals, they had free snacks and drinks for purchase. The crew was so chill and friendly. I highly recommend this tour!

It was truly amazing 🤩 saw a lot of turtles 🐢 tropical fish, water was crystal clear, staff on boat were friendly an very helpful, was highlight of my holiday so far would highly recommend 🙌

We had a fabulous time swimming with turtles off Waikiki beach. The crew were informative, friendly, entertaining and welcoming. I went with my husband and sisters and we all had a ball. It was definitely a highlight of our trip. I would highly recommend this activity.

Maita'i Catamaran

Special: Promo Code: ALOHA20

Waikiki Friday Night Fireworks Sail

Quick details.

• Hour Glass Duration: 1 hour
• Clock Start Times: 7:30 pm

Calendar Availability: Friday only

Adult (13-62 years old)

Child (3-12 years old), infant (2 years and under), our oahu fireworks sail.

Experience the magic of a fireworks show from a catamaran and indulge in a truly unique viewing experience. With breathtaking vistas of the Honolulu skyline against the picturesque backdrop of the Ko’olau range, Friday Night Fireworks Cruise promises to elevate your evening to new heights. As the moon ascends, you’ll be treated to an up-close spectacle of dazzling fireworks bursting across the night sky, all from the comfort of the water. Immerse yourself in this captivating display while enjoying our fully stocked open bar, offering a delightful selection of craft cocktails, beer, wine, seltzers, soda, juice, and water.

Open bar and Transportation from Waikiki are included.

This cruise is one hour. 7:30pm – 8:30pm

$1.00 per person State Ocean Stewardship User Fee will be added to the final prices starting January 1st, 2024.

Highlights & Inclusions

• Fully USGC Certified & State of the Art Catamaran
• Friendly & Experienced Crew
• Surround Sound Stereo System
• Covered & Open-Air Seating
• Dual Restrooms
• Full Bar Selection (Open bar included without any additional pay for everyone)
• Spectacular Views of Honolulu city lights
• Fantastic Setting for Waikiki’s Friday Night Fireworks Show
• 1-Hour Sailing Cruise
• Round trip Transportation Waikiki included for everyone.
• Chevron down What to bring
• Light jacket if you tend to get cold

Related Tours

• Most Popular

Honolulu City Lights Sunset Sail

Prepare for an extraordinary evening unlike any other. Indulge in the breathtaking Hawaiian sunset aboard the Makani Catamaran, where you can relish the open air and sip on our exquisite tropical cocktails.

• Hour Glass 2 Hours
• Clock 11 a.m. 2 p.m.

Fun in the Sun Sail

Embark on a voyage along the sun-kissed south shore of Oahu, where breathtaking vistas of the verdant Ko’olau Mountains, glistening Honolulu skylines, and the awe-inspiring Diamond Head await. Stay alert and witness the enchanting marine wildlife that graces these waters!

pros and cons of standardized testing essay

Do Standardized Tests Improve Education in America?

History of Standardized Testing

Standardized tests have been a part of American  education  since the mid-1800s. Their use skyrocketed after 2002’s  No Child Left Behind Act  (NCLB) mandated annual testing in all 50 states. However, failures in the education system have been blamed on rising  poverty  levels, teacher quality, tenure policies, and, increasingly, on the pervasive use of standardized tests.

Standardized tests are defined as “any test that’s administered, scored, and interpreted in a standard, predetermined manner,” according to by W. James Popham, former President of the American Educational Research Association. The tests often have multiple-choice questions that can be quickly graded by automated test scoring machines. Some tests also incorporate open-ended questions that require human grading. Read more history…

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1 Standardized tests offer an objective measurement of education. Teachers’ grading practices are naturally uneven and subjective. An A in one class may be a C in another. Teachers also have conscious or unconscious biases for a favorite student or against a rowdy student, for example. Standardized tests offer students a unified measure of their knowledge without these subjective differences. [ 56 ] “At their core, standardized exams are designed to be objective measures. They assess students based on a similar set of questions, are given under nearly identical testing conditions, and are graded by a machine or blind reviewer. They are intended to provide an accurate, unfiltered measure of what a student knows,” says Aaron Churchill, Ohio Research Director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. [ 56 ] Frequently states or local jurisdictions employ psychometricians to ensure tests are fair across populations of students. Mark Moulon, CEO at Pythias Consulting and psychometrician, offers an example: “What’s cool about psychometrics is that it will flag stuff that a human would never be able to notice. I remember a science test that had been developed in California and it asked about earthquakes. But the question was later used in a test that was administered in New England. When you try to analyze the New England kids with the California kids, you would get a differential item functioning flag because the California kids were all over the subject of earthquakes, and the kids in Vermont had no idea about earthquakes.” [ 57 ] With problematic questions removed, or adapted for different populations of students, standardized tests offer the best objective measure of what students have learned. Taking that information, schools can determine areas for improvement. As Bryan Nixon, former Head of School, noted, “When we receive standardized test data at Whitby, we use it to evaluate the effectiveness of our education program. We view standardized testing data as not only another set of data points to assess student performance, but also as a means to help us reflect on our curriculum. When we look at Whitby’s assessment data, we can compare our students to their peers at other schools to determine what we’re doing well within our educational continuum and where we need to invest more time and resources.” [ 58 ] Read More

Pro 2 Standardized tests help students in marginalized groups. “If I don’t have testing data to make sure my child’s on the right track, I’m not able to intervene and say there is a problem and my child needs more. And the community can’t say this school is doing well, this teacher needs help to improve, or this system needs new leadership…. It’s really important to have a statewide test because of the income disparity that exists in our society. Black and Brown excellence is real, but… it is unfair to say that just by luck of birth that a child born in [a richer section of town] is somehow entitled to a higher-quality education… Testing is a tool for us to hold the system accountable to make sure our kids have what they need,” explains Keri Rodrigues, Co-founder of the National Parents Union. [ 59 ] Advocates for marginalized groups of students, whether by race, learning disability, or other difference, can use testing data to prove a problem exists and to help solve the problem via more funding, development of programs, or other solutions. Civil rights education lawsuits wherein a group is suing a local or state government for better education almost always use testing data. [ 61 ] Sheryl Lazarus, Director of the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota, states, “a real plus of these assessments is that… they have led to improvements in access to instruction for students with disabilities and English learners… Inclusion of students with disabilities and English learners in summative tests used for accountability allows us to measure how well the system is doing for these students, and then it is possible to fill in gaps in instructional opportunity.” [ 60 ] A letter signed by 12 civil rights organizations including the NAACP and the American Association of University Women, explains, “Data obtained through some standardized tests are particularly important to the civil rights community because they are the only available, consistent, and objective source of data about disparities in educational outcomes, even while vigilance is always required to ensure tests are not misused. These data are used to advocate for greater resource equity in schools and more fair treatment for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, and English learners… [W]e cannot fix what we cannot measure. And abolishing the tests or sabotaging the validity of their results only makes it harder to identify and fix the deep-seated problems in our schools.” [ 62 ] Read More

Pro 3 Standardized tests scores are good indicators of college and job success. Standardized tests can promote and offer evidence of academic rigor, which is invaluable in college as well as in students’ careers. Matthew Pietrafetta, Founder of Academic Approach, argues that the “tests create gravitational pull toward higher achievement.” [ 65 ] Elaine Riordan, senior communications professional at Actively Learn, states, “creating learning environments that lead to higher test scores is also likely to improve students’ long-term success in college and beyond… Recent research suggests that the competencies that the SAT, ACT, and other standardized tests are now evaluating are essential not just for students who will attend four-year colleges but also for those who participate in CTE [career and technical education] programs or choose to seek employment requiring associate degrees and certificates…. all of these students require the same level of academic mastery to be successful after high school graduation.” [ 66 ] Standardized test scores have long been correlated with better college and life outcomes. As Dan Goldhaber, Director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, and Umut Özek, senior researcher at the American Institutes for Research, explain, “students who score one standard deviation higher on math tests at the end of high school have been shown to earn 12% more annually, or $3,600 for each year of work life in 2001.… Similarly… test scores are significantly correlated not only with educational attainment and labor market outcomes (employment, work experience, choice of occupation), but also with risky behavior (teenage pregnancy, smoking, participation in illegal activities).” [ 67 ] Read More

Pro 4 Standardized tests are useful metrics for teacher evaluations. While grades and other measures are useful for teacher evaluations, standardized tests provide a consistent measure across classrooms and schools. Individual school administrators, school districts, and the state can compare teachers using test scores to show how each teacher has helped students master core concepts. [ 63 ] Timothy Hilton, a high school social studies teacher in South Central Los Angeles, states, “No self-respecting teacher would use a single student grade on a single assignment as a final grade for the entirety of a course, so why would we rely on one source of information in the determination of a teacher’s overall quality? The more data that can be provided, the more accurate the teacher evaluation decisions will end up being. Teacher evaluations should incorporate as many pieces of data as possible. Administration observation, student surveys, student test scores, professional portfolios, and on and on. The more data that is used, the more accurate the picture it will paint.” [ 64 ] Read More

Con 1 Standardized tests only determine which students are good at taking tests. Standardized test scores are easily influenced by outside factors: stress, hunger, tiredness, and prior teacher or parent comments about the difficulty of the test, among other factors. In short, the tests only show which students are best at preparing for and taking the tests, not what knowledge students might exhibit if their stomachs weren’t empty or they’d had a good night’s sleep. [ 68 ] [ 69 ] Further, students are tested on grade-appropriate material, but they are not re-tested to determine if they have learned information they tested poorly on the year before. Instead, as Steve Martinez, Superintendent of Twin Rivers Unified in California, and Rick Miller, Executive Director of CORE Districts, note: each “state currently reports yearly change, by comparing the scores of this year’s students against the scores of last year’s students who were in the same grade. Even though educators, parents and policymakers might think change signals impact, it says much more about the change in who the students are because it is not measuring the growth of the same student from one year to the next.” And, because each state develops its own tests, standardized tests are not necessarily comparable across state lines, leaving nationwide statistics shaky at best. [ 69 ] [ 71 ] [ 72 ] Brandon Busteed, Executive Director, Education & Workforce Development at the time of the quote, stated, “Despite an increased focus on standardized testing, U.S. results in international comparisons show we have made no significant improvement over the past 20 years…. The U.S. most recently ranked 23rd, 39th and 25th in reading, math and science, respectively. The last time Americans celebrated being 23rd, 39th and 25th in anything was … well, never. Our focus on standardized testing hasn’t helped us improve our results!” [ 73 ] Busteed asks, “What if our overreliance on standardized testing has actually inhibited our ability to help students succeed and achieve in a multitude of other dimensions? For example, how effective are schools at identifying and educating students with high entrepreneurial talent? Or at training students to apply creative thinking to solve messy and complex issues with no easy answers?” [ 73 ] Read More

Con 2 Standardized tests are racist, classist, and sexist. The origin of American standardized tests are those created by psychologist Carl Brigham, PhD, for the Army during World War I, which was later adapted to become the SAT. The Army tests were created specifically to segregate soldiers by race, because at the time science inaccurately linked intelligence and race. [ 74 ] Racial bias has not been stripped from standardized tests. “Too often, test designers rely on questions which assume background knowledge more often held by White, middle-class students. It’s not just that the designers have unconscious racial bias; the standardized testing industry depends on these kinds of biased questions in order to create a wide range of scores,” explains Young Whan Choi, Manager of Performance Assessments Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, California. He offers an example from his own 10th grade class, “a student called me over with a question. With a puzzled look, she pointed to the prompt asking students to write about the qualities of someone who would deserve a ‘key to the city.’ Many of my students, nearly all of whom qualified for free and reduced lunch, were not familiar with the idea of a ‘key to the city.’” [ 76 ] Wealthy kids, who would be more familiar with a “key to the city,” tend to have higher standardized test scores due to differences in brain development caused by factors such as “access to enriching educational resources, and… exposure to spoken language and vocabulary early in life.” Plus, as Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor of California Community Colleges, points out, “Many well-resourced students have far greater access to test preparation, tutoring and taking the test multiple times, opportunities not afforded the less affluent…. [T]hese admissions tests are a better measure of students’ family background and economic status than of their ability to succeed” [ 77 ] [ 78 ] Journalist and teacher Carly Berwick explains, “All students do not do equally well on multiple choice tests, however. Girls tend to do less well than boys and [girls] perform better on questions with open-ended answers, according to a [Stanford University] study, …which found that test format alone accounts for 25 percent of the gender difference in performance in both reading and math. Researchers hypothesize that one explanation for the gender difference on high-stakes tests is risk aversion, meaning girls tend to guess less.” [ 68 ] Read More

Con 3 Standardized tests scores are not predictors of future success. At best, Standardized tests can only evaluate rote knowledge of math, science, and English. The tests do not evaluate creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, artistic ability, or other knowledge areas that cannot be judged by scoring a sheet of bubbles filled in with a pencil. Grade point averages (GPA) are a five times stronger indicator of college success than standardized tests, according to a study of 55,084 Chicago public school students. One of the authors, Elaine M. Allensworth, Lewis-Sebring Director of the University of Chicago Consortium, states, “GPAs measure a very wide variety of skills and behaviors that are needed for success in college, where students will encounter widely varying content and expectations. In contrast, standardized tests measure only a small set of the skills that students need to succeed in college, and students can prepare for these tests in narrow ways that may not translate into better preparation to succeed in college.” [ 83 ] “Earning good grades requires consistent behaviors over time—showing up to class and participating, turning in assignments, taking quizzes, etc.—whereas students could in theory do well on a test even if they do not have the motivation and perseverance needed to achieve good grades. It seems likely that the kinds of habits high school grades capture are more relevant for success in college than a score from a single test,” explains Matthew M. Chingos, Vice President of Education Data and Policy at the Urban Institute. [ 84 ] Read More

Con 4 Standardized tests are unfair metrics for teacher evaluations. As W. James Popham, former President of the American Educational Research Association, notes, “standardized achievement tests should not be used to determine the effectiveness of a state, a district, a school, or a teacher. There’s almost certain to be a significant mismatch between what’s taught and what’s tested.” [ 81 ] “An assistant superintendent… pointed out that in one of my four kindergarten classes, the student scores were noticeably lower, while in another, the students were outperforming the other three classes. He recommended that I have the teacher whose class had scored much lower work directly with the teacher who seemed to know how to get higher scores from her students. Seems reasonable, right? But here was the problem: The “underperforming” kindergarten teacher and the “high-performing” teacher were one and the same person,” explains Margaret Pastor, Principal of Stedwick Elementary School in Maryland. [ 82 ] As a result, 27 states and D.C. have stopped using standardized tests in teacher evaluations. [ 79 ] [ 80 ] [ 88 ] Read More

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20 Standardized Tests Pros And Cons

Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil)

Dalia Yashinsky is a freelance academic writer. She graduated with her Bachelor's (with Honors) from Queen's University in Kingston Ontario in 2015. She then got her Master's Degree in philosophy, also from Queen's University, in 2017.

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Standardized tests are tests that require each student to answer the same set of “standard” questions, and are graded in a uniform and consistent manner. Standard testing has been a topic of debate for many parents, students, and schools in the era of neoliberal education .

Concerns over standardized testing range from how reliable they are in reflecting students’ abilities, to how they could have potential negative impacts on students that may be knowledgeable but struggle with high-stakes test environments.

Still, there are advantages to standardized testing. Standardized tests can be immensely useful to gain a pulse on the quality of the curriculum, and whether it meets specified learning goals and objectives. Standardized tests also help point out areas for improvement in education, and emphasize aspects of students’ education that could be lacking.

There are many legitimate reasons to be in favor of standardized testing, as there are reasons to be against it. Let’s go over the top 20 pros and cons of standardized testing so you can decide for yourself whether you’re in favor or against standardized tests.

Summary: Are Standardized Tests Good or Bad?

Pros Of Standardized Testing

1. they help you track the progress of education.

Schools need metrics they can reliably use to evaluate students’ progress and see whether teachers are successfully implementing the curriculum. Standardized tests provide a way for school boards and regulatory bodies to determine whether stated educational objectives are being met according to the grade level.

Administering standardized tests on a yearly basis also helps to form a year-over-year analysis of progress made, and introduces benchmarks from which school boards can evaluate whether they have strayed or surpassed the existing average of education being taught. It’s important for schools to be able to compare their academic performance between years, and standardized testing is a reliable way to do so.

2. They help you Identify Areas for Improvement

Standardized testing brings light to areas of the curriculum that are lacking, and can be used to formulate education plans for improvement in those areas. For example, if standardized tests within a school showed that the average test results in math were below grade level, this is helpful for that school to know they need to improve their math curriculum and teaching.

Schools need to understand whether they are meeting their identified learning objectives , and standardized tests offer a way to determine whether they are fulfilling their identified learning goals or not.

3. They Keep Schools Accountable

The value of standardized tests goes beyond that of the individual school, especially when results are used to compare school performance on the national level. When data from standardized tests are generated on a national level, this allows for comparisons between regions and geographic locations, so it’s clear which areas lack in their education and require additional reinforcement.

Standardized testing is an instructive way for governments to gain a pulse on which regions are performing up to standard, above the standard and below the standard. In cases where the results are below average, this expresses that more support or resources are needed to address the educational gap; whereas, in areas where test scores were higher, we can look to such schools to understand what they are doing better and learn from them.

4. Standardized tests are consistent and uniform

Standardized tests provide a reliable and objective method to assess student achievement and learning. While removing all aspects of impartiality is difficult when it comes to scoring tests, since standardized tests require all test-takers to answer the same set of questions, it creates a greater degree of consistency and objectivity in the test results.

Standardized tests are graded by machines or blind reviewers. This is another measure that standardized tests take to achieve a higher degree of impartiality in assessing the test scores.

5. Standardized Tests are Efficient

Most standardized tests are evaluated by machines or AI, which makes assessing standardized tests efficient, less costly and time-consuming. Standardized tests are easy to process, generate significant amounts of education data and create a high-level picture of the state of education.

Essentially standardized tests offer government and regulatory bodies an efficient, low-cost method of extracting large amounts of education data without the burden of substantial associated costs and time investment.

6. They allow you to Compare Students

Parents, students, teachers, school boards and broader governments benefit from the data of standardized tests in seeing where any particular student falls according to the median grade average. The sum of test scores allows schools to make internal comparisons of their performance, comparisons between schools in the same area and schools in different areas.

7. They are clear and Unambiguous

Test scores are black and white and leave no room for interpretation. Student assessments can often be fraught with partiality and subjectivity on the part of the person marking the test.

With standardized tests, the results are unambiguous, clear and impartial.

8. They Can Motivate Students

Students that want to do well on standardized tests are more motivated to study and learn the course material to get a better grade. For some students, a standardized test is an effective motivator to get students to learn better and take school more seriously.

Students are well aware of the importance of high test scores, particularly with respect to the SATs. Lots of students take these tests seriously and spend significant time preparing so they can do well on them.

9. They Provide Consistency Across Education Programs

Education is not limited to the public school setting. Education is offered by various organizations, institutions and homes. Parents that decide to homeschool their kids benefit from the standardized tests because this shows whether their teaching met or exceeds public school standards .

Similarly, private schools and charter schools also benefit from standardized tests by being able to make these same comparisons between their education curriculum and that of traditional public schools.

10. They Instil Good Learning Habits

All tests require students to prepare to be able to take them and do well. Standardized tests are no different. They encourage students to study hard, to develop good study habits that stick and to learn the course material.

Ultimately, all learning is good learning, and while standardized testing has various issues (which we will discuss) the underlying aim to encourage learning and see what progress is made is a positive aspect of education which ought to be encouraged.

Cons Of Standardized Tests

1. they are not accurate reflections of student ability.

Lots of students struggle with test-taking and face anxiety when it comes to these types of assessments. Level of stress, mood and emotional state can all impact a person’s ability when it comes to completing these kinds of assessments. As a result, it makes it difficult to know whether these tests are truly reflective of students’ skills and competencies.

For students that face greater difficulty with test-taking, it is possible that standardized tests produce inaccurate results which could have other, negative impacts on the student’s well-being and potential future opportunities.

2. They Cause Stress

Standardized testing can be a major source of stress for students and teachers alike. It’s well-known that many students don’t perform well on tests, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these students are any less knowledgeable or educated than the students that do perform well.

Standardized tests create performance anxiety, and many students feel overwhelmingly bound by these test scores to get accepted into top schools. Teachers are also indirectly assessed by standardized tests because student performance is reflective of how well kids are being taught. Evidently, when students do not perform well because of stress-related factors, this does not reflect negatively on the teacher, though it may be interpreted that way.

3. Teachers ‘Teach to the Test’

When students need to prepare students for standardized tests, this can impact the way they teach the course material and it can result in teachers ‘teaching to the test,’ rather than the real goal of ensuring students truly understand the material.

Teaching to the test often involves rote learning (memorization of answers) rather than serious engagement with the process of learning. Education theorist Paolo Friere called this the ‘ banking model ‘, which discourages creative and process thinking, and instead encourages shallow memorization of information.

This could have the effect of a more surface-layer education, or the material only being understood by students at a shallow level since they are learning how to do well on the test rather than learning the contents of the subject in and of themselves.

4. They Negatively Impact Student Self-Esteem

When students score poorly on standardized tests, it’s easy for students to feel that these grades are indicators of their overall intelligence and their capacity to do well. Unfortunately, test scores can seriously impact a student’s own sense of their educational capabilities, and they can hinder their progress moving forward.

For example, if a student doesn’t test well, they might simply believe they are not good at school, or that they aren’t smart or cut out for it. Consequently, the student’s attitude towards education and learning is impacted, and they may be disengaged moving forward in their education.

5. They Pose Barriers to Future Opportunities

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test that is used for admissions to colleges in the United States. The SAT has garnered significant criticism in recent years, with nearly 1600 schools in the US opting out of standardized tests as part of the “test-optional” movement .

Students that do not score well on the SATs have a much harder time getting admitted to top colleges and post-secondary institutions. The issue is that in cases where SAT scores are not reflective of the individual student’s abilities, then their test results impact their future opportunities based on this inaccurate assessment of their academic temperament and potential.

6. They Disproportionately Favor White Students

Studies repeatedly show that non-minority students and white students from more affluent communities score better on standardized tests than their non-white counterparts.

While the disparity in test results stresses the need to address educational gaps in underserved communities, the gap also raises questions about the fairness of the test questions themselves (or other factors that might cause the disparity.)

Whatever the reason for the gap in education across white students and non-white students, this gap in test scores creates further inequality and inequitable access to higher education.

7. Education is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ situation

Everyone is different—this means we all learn at a different pace, and have different academic aptitudes and preferences. Education should not be viewed through a cookie-cutter or ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; that said, standardized testing looks to apply education and understand its outcomes in this way.

Standardized tests are not inclusive of differing learning styles and applies the same set of rules for each student completing the assessment. Treating each student the exact same fails to recognize important ways in which we learn and understand educational materials.

8. Standardized Tests are Not Comprehensive

When it comes to standardized tests, it’s important that schools do not see test scores as a comprehensive reflection of a student’s academic capabilities. Besides this, schools should not base their admissions decisions on the sole basis of test results, because this ignores other factors that are relevant to the student’s skills and competencies.

Exclusively relying on the results of standardized tests to form decisions on student admissions to schools would result in many students being denied admission unfairly. Just because a student may not have performed well on a single assessment, this shouldn’t be the sole determinant for whether they get into a good college or not. Other metrics for student assessment must be considered in these admissions processes.

9. Students Learn to the Test

Just like teachers can teach to the test, students can learn to score well on the test too. The problem is that learning to the ‘test’ underdetermines real learning of the subject material.

This encourages learning not for learning’s sake, but for the sake of scoring high on a test. Learning should be encouraged for its own purposes, and standardized testing places the focus on scores rather than learning in itself.

10. Exams Do Not Show College Readiness Soft Skills

Proponents of standardized testing argued that the tests would help highschool students prepare for college and make the transition smoother.

Despite their belief, the numbers tell a different story. High test scores on standardized tests have not correlated with greater student readiness to enter college. It is also not clear how it would result in students being more prepared for college in the first place.

Rather, the number of schools that are dropping the requirements for standardized testing is skyrocketing. These schools are making it optional for students to take standardized tests, and are part of the “test-optional” movement.

When it comes to standardized testing, the important thing is that the test scores are not seen as the total picture of a student’s abilities, but rather as part of a broader assessment or understanding. Testing data should be used to gain a general sense of how education is going, and whether learning objectives are being met or not. Standardized tests shouldn’t be seen as comprehensive, and schools should not base their admissions decisions solely on the scores of standardized tests.

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The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing in Education

📚 Standardized testing has become an integral part of the modern education system. It involves evaluating students' knowledge and skills based on a uniform set of questions and grading criteria. While standardized testing has its proponents who argue for its benefits, it also has its fair share of critics. In this article, we will explore both the pros and cons of standardized testing to provide a balanced perspective.

Pros of Standardized Testing

1. objective assessment.

✅ One of the main advantages of standardized testing is that it offers an objective way to assess students' knowledge and abilities. By utilizing a uniform testing format, it ensures fairness and minimizes potential biases that could arise from subjective grading. This allows for a standardized measure of student performance, making it easier to compare across different schools and districts.

2. Accountability and Quality Control

🔍 Standardized tests help hold schools and educators accountable for the quality of education they provide. By measuring students' performance against established standards, it becomes easier to identify areas that need improvement. This encourages schools to strive for excellence and provides a benchmark for monitoring educational progress.

3. College and Career Preparedness

🎓 Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are commonly used for college admissions. They provide a standardized way to evaluate students' readiness for higher education. By preparing for these tests, students develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management, which are crucial for success in college and future careers.

Cons of Standardized Testing

1. narrow focus on testing content.

🎯 Critics argue that standardized testing promotes a narrow focus on test-specific content, often neglecting other important aspects of education. Teachers may feel pressured to teach to the test, sacrificing creative and critical thinking, as well as social and emotional development. This narrow approach may limit students' overall learning experience.

2. Limited Assessment of Individual Growth

📈 Standardized tests primarily measure students' performance at a specific point in time, providing limited insight into their individual growth and progress. Learning is a dynamic process, and students' capabilities extend beyond what can be captured in a single test. Focusing solely on standardized testing may overlook important aspects of students' abilities and potential.

3. Increased Stress and Pressure

😰 The high stakes nature of standardized tests can lead to increased stress and pressure on students. The emphasis placed on test scores for college admissions or school rankings can create an environment of anxiety and competition. This stress may negatively impact students' mental well-being and hinder their ability to perform to their full potential.

📝 Standardized testing, like any educational tool, has its advantages and disadvantages. It provides an objective assessment, promotes accountability, and prepares students for college and careers. However, it also narrows the focus of education, limits individual growth assessment, and increases stress levels. Striking a balance between standardized testing and alternative assessment methods is crucial to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to education.

🌟 Ultimately, it is important for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education system to critically evaluate the role of standardized testing and consider its impact on students' overall learning experience and well-being.

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16 Biggest Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

In the modern educational environment, standardized testing is used to evaluate students and their teachers with how well they are performing. Their use is often touted because it allows students and teachers to be compared with one another, showing how well someone is performing or what educational gaps may need to be addressed. In the US, standardized testing today often doesn’t account for any special needs that a student may have, so the results for each student may not be entirely accurate.

The pros and cons of standardized testing show us that evaluating how students and teachers perform is an important part of the educational process. We can improve that be looking at additional key points like these.

What Are the Pros of Standardized Testing?

1. They are a familiar component of the US educational system. Education in the United States has included standardized testing in some way since the mid-1800s. Standardized tests, such as the ACT or GRT, are also useful in determining placement in advanced educational programs. Since 2002, their use has been more common in all 50 states within the US. This has only increased since the conversion to Common Core.

2. It is a process which holds students and teachers accountable. The scores on a standardized test become part of the public record. If a student is not performing as they should, then these gaps can be identified immediately and adjustments to their learning process made. If a teacher is underperforming, then this can be identified and adjustment quickly as well. Schools are also judged through this process, which has led to some being closed or brought under new management because of a lack of quality.

3. Parents receive more information about their student. The information that is provided by a standardized test allows parents to see how their children are performing against national standards through a percentile rating. If a student receives a 90% rating in mathematics, for example, then parents know that their student is performing better in that subject than 90% of their peers throughout the country. Parents can also see how the educational opportunities in their region compare to national statistics.

4. It creates an accepted set of standards that are established throughout the entire educational community. If a student moves to a different school district, their knowledge and learning processes aren’t going to dramatically change because of standardized testing. Every student is evaluated in the same way with these tests, which means there is a guarantee of a specific educational framework in every school. This means teachers at every grade level are teaching curricula that is similar, no matter where they happen to be.

5. They reduce the subjectivisms of grading systems. Many students are graded within a classroom environment on a curve. This means the student’s work is compared to the work of other students and then a grade is assigned based on that performance. There are also subjectivisms in the grading systems for certain reading and writing activities that are based solely on teacher opinion. Because standardized tests are graded by computers, they are much more impartial and accurate with the grades a student has truly earned.

6. It can provide information that schools need to form sub-group learning opportunities. Standardized testing provides a set of data that can be mined by schools to improve their structure, teaching methods, and activities. Sub-groups can be easily identified on standardized tests that allow schools to be able to develop services and programs that can help to improve the educational opportunities for those students. In doing so, the goal is to raise the testing scores that the teachers and students are able to achieve.

7. It allows overseers to determine the effectiveness of an educational system. Educational systems are not meant to be static structures. As technologies and knowledge changes and grows, our educational systems must be able to adapt. Thirty years ago, computers were a rarity in the classroom environment. A school might have a computer lab in 1985 with a handful of stations and that was it. Through standardized testing, we can identify the areas of an educational system that need to evolve so we can put modern learning opportunities into the hands of our students. Like bringing in low-cost Chromebooks into the classroom on a regular basis.

8. It encourages kids to work together. Although studying opportunities do tend to decline with standardized testing, kids often approach a standardized test as a local competition. They work hard to do better than their friends did. The scores that they are able to achieve become a sense of pride. This is especially true for gifted and talented students who can regularly score in the top percentile ratings for their grade level.

What Are the Cons of Standardized Testing?

1. Standardized testing only provides a one-day evaluation for a student. If a student had a difficult morning and it affects their performance on the day they take a standardized test, then their scores may not accurately reflect their true knowledge or potential. Many people just don’t perform well on a test because of the pressure that a test provides. Test anxiety can also affect a student’s performance. This means a standardized test isn’t always an accurate reflection of the intelligence a student has.

2. They can change how teachers actually teach in the classroom. Because teacher evaluations are based on the results of standardized tests, it has caused many teachers to change their classroom approach. Instead of teaching specific skills that are subject-related, they teach students how to take the test well instead. This practice hinders the potential that a child has to learn, removes creativity from the classroom, and causes children to dread going to school more than they already do.

3. They have the potential to create teaching gaps. Because teachers are almost forced to become hyper-focused on test results, students begin to be identified based on how well they perform. Students that are highly intelligent and take the standardized tests well will often receive little attention from their teacher because the teacher’s focus has shifted to the poor test takers. This further limits the learning potential of students, especially the gifted and talented students who would benefit from skill-based learning.

4. It causes teachers to abandon their profession for good. Great teachers are opting to leave their classrooms in favor of other employment opportunities because of the pressures that standardized tests create. Students also feel this stress because they realize that their performance is going to affect the life of their teacher in some way. This intense pressure does not encourage learning. If anything, it encourages a lack of learning by knowing just enough to get by.

5. Standardized tests can struggle to evaluate a student’s total growth. Standardized testing will only determine how proficient a student is at the time the test has been taken. A student who comes into fourth grade at a first-grade reading level, but improves to a third-grade reading level by the end of the year, will still be measured as being deficient on their standardized test. Instead of evaluating the hard work that a student puts in for improvement, the test basically calls the student a failure.

6. Standardized testing creates questions and answers that have their own subjectivity. It’s true that computer grading can eliminate the subjectivity of the grade. What computers cannot do is eliminate the subjectivity of the people who create the test in the first place. This may create an unintended bias within the grading results, even without grading subjectivity, because the questions could be geared toward a certain ethnic or socioeconomic class to their benefit.

7. Funding is often dependent on student scoring. Even within individual school districts, the amount of funding a specific school receives is often dependent on the test scores that are achieved. This means there is a lot of unnecessary competition between classrooms and schools about test results just so that the school can receive the funding that they want or need. This competition often limits the amount of time students have for exercise and play, which can affect their social development.

8. They can destroy a student’s self-esteem. School is often approached as a job. A necessity. With a poor standardized test score, students can think less of themselves and their abilities. A low score might even result in summer tutoring, which ruins the idea of a summer vacation from school. This can be especially problematic for students who are high knowledge individuals, but poor test takers.

The pros and cons of standardized testing show that the amount of information that these tests can generate is invaluable. Teachers can see what they need to teach and when they are able to teach it. If we can focus less on taking the test and more on teaching every student in an individualized way as much as possible, we will be able to see the true benefits of this type of test.

Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

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Like many issues in public education , standardized testing can be a controversial topic among parents, teachers, and voters. Many people say standardized testing provides an accurate measurement of student performance and teacher effectiveness. Others say such a one-size-fits-all approach to assessing academic achievement can be inflexible or even biased. Regardless of the diversity of opinion, there are some common arguments for and against standardized testing in the classroom .

Standardized Testing Pros

Proponents of standardized testing say that it is the best means of comparing data from a diverse population, allowing educators to digest large amounts of information quickly. They argue that:

It's accountable.  Probably the greatest benefit of standardized testing is that educators and schools are responsible for teaching students what they are required to know for these standardized tests. This is mostly because these scores become public record, and teachers and schools that don’t perform up to par can come under intense examination. This scrutiny can lead to the loss of jobs. In some cases, a school can be closed or taken over by the state.

It's analytical.  Without standardized testing, this comparison would not be possible. Public school students in Texas , for example, are required to take standardized tests, allowing test data from Amarillo to be compared to scores in Dallas. Being able to accurately analyze data is a primary reason that many states have adopted the Common Core state standards .

It's structured.  Standardized testing is accompanied by a set of established standards or an instructional framework to guide classroom learning and test preparation. This incremental approach creates benchmarks to measure student progress over time.

It's objective.  Standardized tests are often scored by computers or by people who do not directly know the student to remove the chance that bias would affect the scoring. Tests are also developed by experts, and each question undergoes an intense process to ensure its validity—that it properly assesses the content—and its reliability, which means that the question tests consistently over time.

It's granular.  The data generated by testing can be organized according to established criteria or factors, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and special needs. This approach provides schools with data to develop targeted programs and services for improving student performance.

Standardized Testing Cons

Opponents of standardized testing say educators have become too fixated on scores and preparing for these exams. Some of the most common arguments against testing are:

It's inflexible.  Some students may excel in the classroom yet not perform well on a standardized test because they're unfamiliar with the format or develop test anxiety. Family strife, mental and physical health issues, and language barriers can all affect a student's test score. But standardized tests don't allow personal factors to be taken into consideration.

It's a waste of time.  Standardized testing causes many teachers to teach to the tests, meaning they only spend instructional time on material that will appear on the test. Opponents say this practice lacks creativity and can hinder a student’s overall learning potential.

It can't measure true progress.  Standardized testing only evaluates one-time performance instead of a student's progress and proficiency over time. Many would argue that teacher and student performance should be evaluated for growth over the course of the year instead of one single test.

It's stressful.  Teachers and students alike feel test stress. For educators, poor student performance may result in a loss of funding and teachers being fired. For students, a bad test score may mean missing out on admission to the college of their choice or even being held back. In Oklahoma, for example, high school students must pass four standardized tests in order to graduate, regardless of their GPA. (The state gives seven standardized end-of-instruction (EOI) exams in Algebra I, Algebra II, English II, English III, Biology I, geometry and U.S. history. Students who fail to pass at least four of these exams can’t get a high school diploma.)

It's political.  With public and charter schools both competing for the same public funds, politicians and educators have come to rely even more on standardized test scores. Some opponents of testing argue that low-performing schools are unfairly targeted by politicians who use academic performance as an excuse to further their own agendas.

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Standardized Tests: The Benefits and Impacts of Implementing Standardized Tests

A standardized test is a type of exam where every student answers the same set of questions from a common pool. This approach sets a clear benchmark for comparing student performance across different districts, holds teachers accountable, and supports educators in crafting their curriculum.

Read on to learn more.

The Need for Standardized Tests

When assessing student learning, comprehension, or competency in a particular subject area, teachers may use various methods. However, because these assessments can be subjective, standardized tests help reduce bias by providing a consistent scoring system. In these tests, every student has the same amount of time and faces questions like multiple-choice or true-false, which helps ensure fair and accurate results in the education system.

In the U.S., standardized testing starts early, often with a Kindergarten readiness test required in many states. As students progress, they take exams like the ACT or SAT for college admissions, the LSAT for law school, and the MCAT for medical school.

The Prevalence of Standardized Tests in the U.S. Schools

Here are five reasons why standardized tests are so common in U.S. schools:

• Standardized tests are designed to gather data and analyze it quantitatively. This helps schools benchmark their students' educational outcomes against a broad sample used during the standardization process.
• A student’s test scores can guide teachers in addressing a specific knowledge or achievement gap.
• School administrators can use these test results to identify if any teachers need extra training. If certain classes aren't meeting state standards, it might signal the need for professional development to promote teacher effectiveness .
• By understanding where students struggle, educators can adjust and improve the curriculum to better meet students' needs.
• With a consistent measure of student achievement , standardized exams allow for meaningful district comparisons and help maintain educational standards nationwide.

Discover the Benefits of Standardized Tests

Standardized tests have been a staple in U.S. education since the mid-1800s, providing a consistent way to measure student achievement. Here’s what standardized testing can do:

1. Establish a Universal Educational Standard

These tests establish a baseline for comparison. By having all learners take the same standardized assessment — regardless of their school or district — school leaders can easily compare student test scores across diverse backgrounds. This way, they can measure individuals against a common standard.

2. Demonstrate Student Progress

Standardized exams can show how students improve over time by comparing their scores from year to year. They also allow for straightforward comparisons between students, highlighting changes in their progress.

3. Ensure That All Educational Stakeholders Are Held Accountable

These assessments help define academic standards across schools, states, and the nation. They provide valuable data that can shape educational policies. If test takers struggle in a particular area, it signals that school leaders and community stakeholders need to step in and provide targeted interventions and additional support.

4. Identify and Address Educational Disparities

Standardized tests can highlight achievement gaps between student groups, like those from different socioeconomic backgrounds. By pinpointing these disparities, educators and policymakers can develop targeted strategies to bridge these gaps and ensure all students get the support they need .

5. Provide Data for Research and Policy-Making

The results of these exams offer valuable data that researchers and policymakers use to analyze educational trends and outcomes. This data helps shape decisions on curriculum improvements, funding priorities, and educational reforms, ensuring that education policies are grounded in solid evidence and aimed at enhancing student success.

What Are Some Pitfalls of Standardized Testing?

While these exams play a significant role in U.S. education, they come with their own set of challenges. Standardized testing:

1. Can Be Predictable

Savvy students can often guess answers on standardized tests based on familiar patterns or questions they already know. This means high test scores don’t always reflect a student's knowledge. According to Brookings , up to 80% of test score improvements might not actually indicate long-term learning improvements.

2. Doesn’t Measure Intelligence

While standardized tests are praised for their objectivity, they don’t measure intelligence directly. Research from Harvard reveals that socioeconomic status is a stronger predictor of SAT scores than schooling or grade level. Critics argue that wealthier families have more access to test prep resources, creating an uneven playing field.

3. May Hurt Student’s Self-Esteem

Standardized tests can undermine the confidence of previously successful students. Many experience test anxiety, which affects their performance because the testing environment is so stressful. This anxiety can lead to a drop in self-esteem and overall academic achievement.

4. Can Narrow Curriculum Focus

U.S. schools are reducing the time spent on subjects like social studies, the arts, and science , according to Education Week. This shift meant students lose hours of instruction in these areas to focus instead on standardized exam subjects like reading and math.  

Balancing the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

Standardized testing has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, these tests help educators pinpoint learning gaps by comparing student knowledge. However, it's worth noting that a deep understanding of a subject doesn't always translate into top test results. Still, having solid knowledge can make students more prepared and confident when they face an exam. 

Education Advanced offers tools to address these challenges and streamline school operations, including:

• TestHound : Ensuring that every student gets the necessary accommodations.
• Evaluation : Simplifying staff assessments with detailed analytics.
• Pathways : Tracking student progress to keep them on course for graduation. 

These solutions not only reduce administrative burdens but also create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, helping every student reach their full potential.

Ready to transform your school’s learning environment? Contact us to discover how solutions from Education Advanced can help. 

‍ Original Publish Date February 24, 202 | Updated September 3, 2024

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What Is Standardized Testing? The Pros and Cons and More

They’re used a lot in education, but what exactly are they?

Standardized testing is a hot-button topic, one that’s fraught with controversy. While these assessments have been around for decades, the increase in testing in the last 20 years or so has brought the issue to the forefront. As parents consider opting their students out and some states seek to do away with them , it’s worth asking: What exactly is standardized testing, and why do we focus on it so heavily?

What is standardized testing?

Source: StateImpact

In a standardized test, every student responds to the same questions (or questions from same question bank), under the exact same set of conditions. They are often made up of multiple-choice questions and are given on paper or (more commonly these days) on a computer. Experts choose the questions carefully to test a specific set of skills and knowledge.

Large groups of students take the same standardized tests, not just those in the same class or school. This gives people the chance to compare results across a specific group, usually children of the same age or grade level.

What are some types of standardized tests?

There are different types of standardized tests, including:

• Diagnostic test: These often help determine if a student qualifies for special education services. They can test academic, physical and fine motor skills, social and behavioral skills, and more. Examples might be a hearing test or a learning disability test.
• Achievement test: This type of test measures a student’s current strengths and weaknesses in a particular area, almost always academic subjects. Examples include the SAT, the Iowa Assessments, and the tests many states use at certain grade levels.

See a list of popular standardized tests here.

How are standardized tests scored?

Each individual standardized test has its own scoring mechanism. Usually, a student earns a score based on the number of correct answers they give. Those scores can be analyzed in two different ways: criterion-referenced and norm-referenced.

Criterion-Referenced Scoring

Source: Criterion-Based Testing/Renaissance

In this type of scoring, a student’s results are measured against predetermined standards, not against other test takers’ results. Their scores might help educators place them in categories like “proficient,” “advanced,” or “deficient.”

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are an excellent example of criterion-referenced tests. Students earn a score on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest. They earn these scores based on preset standards. Students aren’t ranked in comparison to one another.

Another example would be a driver’s license test. Students pass or fail based on their answers, with no reference to how others score. Criterion-referenced tests help measure a student’s personal achievements, regardless of their age or grade level.

Norm-Referenced Scoring

Source: Norm-Based Testing/Renaissance

In norm-referenced tests, students are ranked based on their scores. This places them into “percentiles,” which measure how they performed compared to their peers. If a student is in the 58th percentile, it means they scored higher than 58% of all the students who took the exam. It’s usually better to rank in a higher percentile.

Most state standardized tests are norm-referenced, as are IQ tests. A student can perform well on a test, but if their peers performed better, they will still be ranked in a lower percentile. These scores are ranked on a bell curve.

You can think of norm-referenced tests the same way you might think of a growth chart at the doctor’s office. Doctors know the average height for a child at a certain age. They can then compare a specific child to those averages, to determine if they are shorter or taller than average.

Learn more about criterion-referenced vs. norm-referenced tests here.

What are standardized tests used for?

Standardized tests are meant to give educators a chance to determine how effective their instruction strategies are overall. They can also help identify strengths and weaknesses in students, so these students can receive individualized attention as needed. Many consider them an important way to be sure all students across a state or even the nation are learning to the same basic educational standards.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 first required schools to use standardized tests. This act provided funding to schools to ensure every student had access to equal education opportunities, and used standardized tests to determine how schools were performing against national averages. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 ramped up standardized testing even further. It tied some federal funding to student test scores, and raised the stakes for schools dramatically.

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 currently requires annual statewide tests in reading/language arts and mathematics to all students in grades 3-8 and once during the high school years. States also must test on science at least once in each of grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

What are the benefits to standardized testing?

Source: ViewSonic

Proponents of standardized tests consider these factors to be among the benefits:

• Standardization of quality curriculum: By requiring standardized tests, schools across the country can be sure they’re teaching the basic skills and knowledge every student needs at specific ages. Experts determine the skills and knowledge they feel will equip students to succeed in the larger world after they graduate.
• Equality and equity: Lower-income populations have long been underserved by traditional educational systems. By requiring all schools to meet the same educational standards, as measured by tests, education becomes more equitable for all.
• Removal of bias: When computers or impartial graders score tests objectively, it eliminates potential bias. (This assumes the test writers created non-biased questions.)
• Measure of effective instruction: High-ranking schools may be able to share their instruction methods with those who rank lower, encouraging ingenuity and cooperation across the system. Tests can determine where teachers may need more training, or where additional funding could help schools improve their programs.

Learn about more potential benefits of standardized testing here.

What are some drawbacks of standardized testing?

Source: NEA

Despite the potential benefits, the backlash against increased testing has become louder in recent years . Teachers, students, and parents worry about many factors, including:

Over-Testing

In a nationwide study of the largest urban schools , students took an average of 112 standardized tests from kindergarten through graduation. Students may spend as many as 19 hours or more taking these tests each year. And this doesn’t include time spent on test prep or practice tests.

What’s more, teachers often note that standardized tests don’t match up with their textbooks or other materials. Sometimes they don’t even match the state educational standards. And even when they do, the standards may not be particularly relevant or useful for every student.

Learn why teachers wish they had more involvement in standardized test development.

Test Anxiety

Taking a test is never a laid-back process, and never more so than during standardized tests. Students are scrutinized from all angles to make sure they don’t cheat. Teachers have to perform that scrutiny and often undergo some of it themselves.

There’s so much pressure to do well on these tests that kids can feel like it’s a life-or-death situation. Their anxiety goes through the roof, and even those who know the material thoroughly may not perform well under the pressure. And more and more districts evaluate teachers based at least in part on student test scores. This can affect their salaries and chances for advancement.

More Kids Than Ever Are Dealing With Test Anxiety, and We Need to Help

Lost Instructional Time

With days lost to taking tests, not to mention all the time spent preparing, other educational aspects fall by the wayside. Teachers lose the chance to give students more meaningful hands-on experiences. They eliminate unique and engaging projects or activities that don’t directly relate to items included on tests. As the saying goes, they “teach to the test,” and nothing more.

Read what one teacher would really like to tell their students about benchmark testing.

Lack of Useful Data

Many teachers will tell you that they can predict almost exactly how their students will score on the standardized assessments. In other words, these tests aren’t giving them any new information. Teachers already know which students are struggling and which have mastered the necessary skills and knowledge. Generated data rarely seems to provide any useful direct benefits to teachers or students.

See the 7 Biggest Complaints Teachers Have About Testing—and How to Fix Them.

Still have more questions about standardized testing? Join the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook to chat with other educators.

Plus, these test-taking strategies will help students pass with ease ..

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Standardized Testing: Fair or Not?

by Dr. John Poulsen 
and Kurtis Hewson

Standardized testing in some circles is demonized as the vilest form of assessment. These individuals point to many problems with how these tests are created and administered, as well how the results are used. In other circles standardized testing represents true assessment whereby individual performances can be compared to other performances in a meaningful manner. That is, standardized testing is seen by some as a fair form of comparison; others do not. Knowing where standardized testing came from and what were the motivations for its growth, may help in understanding and perhaps in being able to use the results of standardized tests to improve teaching and learning. This article serves as an overview of the history and current realities of standardized testing.

Introduction

Considering the role standardized testing has acquired in education systems internationally, one can safely assume that a vast majority of Canadians have experienced these tests as students. More and more students’ lives are becoming influenced by standardized testing, as a societal push for educational accountability has led to a dramatic increase in the use of these assessments across districts and nations (Guskey & Jung, 2013). Their value is much debated by educators, academics, and politicians, but what is clear is that their use seems to be increasing rather than decreasing. Experiencing standardized tests as students can provide a useful perspective, however, it is important that faculty and students have a general understanding of the history of standardized or high-stakes testing, as well as a basic overview of the how these assessments are built.

This article will explore the history of standardized testing, recent developments within standardized testing, creation of test questions, and applicability.

Stiggins (2008) states that

these once-a-year tests are not likely to be of much value to classroom teachers as you plan and carry out day-to-day instruction. They are assessments OF learning that are too infrequent, broad in focus, and slow in returning results to inform the ongoing array of daily decisions. But this does not mean that these tests are without purpose or value. They can communicate valuable information about students’ achievement status to other decision makers (pp. 347-348).

This relatively rational statement could be considered a definition of the battle lines that have been drawn up between those who are proponents of standardized tests and those against them.

The intent in standardized testing is to have large numbers of students write a single test, then to compare any single score against all others to see how an individual’s score compares to the large sample. The results are then posted on a bell curve that indicates where a score sits within descriptive statistical standards. Standardized tests are given to large groups numbering at least in the thousands, sometimes millions. In order to make the results as valid as possible, thus “standardizing” the administration of the assessment, the tests are:

• written at the same time and same day for all students,
• administered with consistent instructions,
• allowed the same amount of time for each student to write the test, and
• scored in the same manner.

Scantron is a common method of marking bubble sheets of multiple-choice style questions. Essays are marked by specialists who have been trained to mark in similar fashion.

Burke (1999) maintains that traditionally “standardized” meant that the test is standard or the same in three ways: (a) format/questions, (b) instructions, and (c) time allotment. Format/questions means that the test questions are the same for all students writing the exam. The information that the students are to show they know is asked of them in the same format that is usually multiple choice. Multiple choice is the format of choice because as Stiggins (2008) suggests, “It is relatively easy to develop, administer, and score in large numbers” (p. 354). Further, in order for the test to be fair in the sense of all students having the same chance to answer each question correctly, all questions must be the same.

The instructions are to be the same as well. These are to be delivered in the same way to all students so that no students are advantaged or disadvantaged. The last standardization is time allotment. All students are to be given the same amount of time to finish the exam.

However, the standardization of standardized exams is being eroded. Common changes to standardized testing allow certain students to have more than the allotted amount of time. Some students with certain learning needs are now allowed to have more time than other students to complete the exam. These students are then often allowed to write in different rooms as well.

The second requirement of standardized tests is also frequently adapted. Students with reading problems can get “readers” to read the questions. The rationale behind this is that the curriculum asks that students know certain information. Whether the students know this information is the purpose of the exam, not whether the students can read. These readers may adapt the standardized instructions that the students receive. Also, reading the questions to the students may give them an advantage or disadvantage other students do not have. Therefore, the second and third requirements of standardized testing are no longer strongly in effect.

There are other forms of standardized testing that are available other than multiple-choice questions, for example, essay writing. This form of testing currently has the disadvantage of needing markers to assess the essays. Essay markers must be trained to gain a sense of what the standards are. Then they must engage in the time-consuming activity of reading the essays. Even with the training assessors can give significantly different grades to an essay.

Proponents of standardized testing point to large-scale use of the tests that go beyond the individual student or even the school. Standardized testing allows comparison between provincial education systems or even national education systems. Advocates say that standardized tests are impartial and rational. They state that standardized tests are an inexpensive way to check that schools and teachers are accountable, that students and therefore the public are getting the education that public dollars are paying for. Standardized tests by this measure are intended to examine the whole education system and therefore individual scores may be not as significant.

“… the standardization of standardized exams is being eroded.”

The history of standardized testing is underpinned by noble sentiments. Testing can be found in all cultures. Evaluating the understanding of someone learning a new skill is common for all societies. Standardized testing as we know it today began in earnest in China as a form of aptitude testing, trying to ascertain who would be best at a particular job. Fletcher (2009) states that, “The earliest record of standardized testing comes from China, where hopefuls for government jobs had to fill out examinations testing their knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry.” These exams started in about 100 CE but were firmly established during the Sui Dynasty in 605 CE. They attempted to predict aptitude by discerning the best candidates for the Chinese civil service.

The most recent impetus to standardized testing was the Industrial Revolution and the movement to increased schooling where students were moved out of the work force and into schools. One of the easiest and arguably the cheapest way to test large numbers of those children was with a standardized exam.

Alfred Binet (1857-1911) and Theodore Simon (1872-1961) developed what is now commonly known as an IQ Test, beginning in the late 1800s and culminating with the Binet-Simon scale in 1905. These intelligence tests were created in response to the French government wanting to develop special education classes for students who were not benefiting from the newly instituted regular compulsory education program. The tests tried to identify students who needed focused education in order to maximize their education. These standardized tests were an attempt to streamline education so that society would gain maximum benefit from each citizen, a noble sentiment.

The test contained problems arranged in order of difficulty in a range of subjects but had as the basis items assessing comprehension, reasoning, and judgment (Reynolds, Livingston, & Willson, 2009). Louis Terman (1877-1956), who was teaching at the time at Stanford University, noted the success of these exams and their potential applicability in America. He spearheaded the creation of the Stanford-Binet Test which remains, in its fifth iteration, the most popular IQ testing vehicle in existence.

Fletcher (2009) suggests that “… by World War I, standardized testing was standard practice: aptitude quizzes called Army Mental Tests were conducted to assign U.S. servicemen jobs during the war effort.” Robert Yerkes was one of the academics assigned to test the servicemen and then suggest appropriate placement. This testing of servicemen helped build up a record of statistical evidence for IQ testing. Carl Brigham worked with Yerkes in the testing of servicemen. After the war he published a book, A Study of American Intelligence, based on the results in World War I. From this finding and analysis he created the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 1926. Its intention was to screen college applicants to insure the worthy candidates were allowed admission. The test became immediately popular and by 1945 it became a standard method of college and university entrance, again a noble enterprise.

Everett Linquist invented the American College Test (ACT) in 1959 as a competitor to the SAT. In 2011, more than 3.3 million individuals wrote SAT and ACT exams. The ACT is considered more of a test of accumulated knowledge while the SAT is thought to test logic. Other important standardized exams are the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

These standardized tests that attempt to predict success or aptitude seem to be successful. Reynolds, Livingston, and Willson (2009) state, “As a general rule, research has shown with considerable consistency that contemporary intelligence tests are good predictors of academic success” (p. 334). Fishman and Pasanella (1960) reviewed SAT predictive validity in the 1950s, finding that the median correlation between student first-year success and the SAT score was a significant 0.61. Recently Kobrin, Patterson, Shaw, Mattern, and Barbuti (2008) found a correlation of 0.29, a respectable correlation between SAT scores and First Year Grade Point Average (FYGPA).

In Alberta, standardized testing began in the 1960s. McEwen (1995) suggests that Alberta’s introduction of achievement testing for Grades 3, 6, and 9 was done in response to a worldwide wave of educational reform that wanted more accountability in education. At the Grade 12 level, diploma exams were reinstated in 1984 after being removed for a few years. McEwen clarifies the reason for the achievement tests:

Public education is funded by taxpayers who want and have a right to know if they are getting value for their investment. Such accountability requires public information. An indicator system is a tool to focus reform and to improve accountability by providing better information about the education system’s performance. The goals, or intended benefits, of implementing indicator systems are to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the educational enterprise, to improve education, and to provide a mechanism for accountability (p. 28).

Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

The primary conundrums in standardized testing of achievement lie in the validity and applicability of the test results. Validity relates to how accurately the test results actually reflect the students’ knowledge about the subject. Standardized tests use a minimum number of questions and getting even one or two wrong due to environmental reasons will affect the individual student’s results. The factors that affect a student getting a question right or wrong may be infinite and could be organized into (a) situational/environmental confounding factors, (b) personal/emotional factors, and (c) grade-spread requirement in standardized testing.

Situational/Environmental Factors

Even though standardized testing attempts to minimize confounding variables by requiring students to write in similar situations, it may be that some students are writing in situations that are significantly different from other students, for example, it might be too bright or too dark or even too cold or too hot. The testing conditions may cause students to perform poorly such as when students might miss questions not because they do not know the material but for something as simple as the testing centre had poor lighting that caused headaches in students, or because the testing room was too cold and did not allow certain students to focus.

Personal/Emotional Factors

Students who are poor test takers because of nerves associated with tests may not be able to show what they can accomplish in the high-stakes atmosphere of standardized testing. Their anxiety becomes the determining factor of how well they do the test, not whether they know the material. Even students who are normally good test takers can have a skewed result; for example, a student who had an emotional moment just before the test might not be able to focus and receives a result that is not reflective of his or her capabilities.

Grade-Spread Requirement

Perhaps the primary concern with achievement standardized testing is that testing should be based on curricular outcomes that are mandated by the provincial or state governing bodies. Standardized tests have to make a one-size-fits-all test that will not fit all because as Popham (1999) says, “… standardized achievement tests will invariably contain a number of items that are not aligned with what’s emphasized in a particular setting” (p. 331). A 1983 study of alignment between textbook content and the standardized test found that, “In no case was even 50 percent of a test’s content satisfactorily addressed in any textbook” (Popham, p. 331). That is, there was a poor correlation between what was in the test and in the textbooks that were a prime resource to prepare students for the test.

Test creators seek a score spread in their questions. They seek questions that are not answered correctly by too many students. Questions that are answered correctly by more than 60% of the students are usually removed from the test. Popham indicates this is a problem because “… items on which students perform well often cover the content that, because of its importance, teachers stress” (p. 332). So the important material that is required by the curriculum is often not tested.

How questions are determined to be most worthy for standardized testing is important. When deciding which questions to use, test creators, in essence, try to find questions that only the top 50% of the students will get right. These types of questions are popular in standardized testing because they support the common theory of testing whereby the highest achieving students answer the questions correctly. So, standardized tests can be self-affirming. Students who are in the top 50% of the class answered the questions correctly because they are in the top 50% of the class.

Further, if a concept is taught to all students in a class and all students answer the question correctly, that question will not be used in the future as it does not spread the students’ scores so that fine-grained norm-referenced numbers can be associated with each student. That is, if all students did well on the test then there would be no bell curve and the associate connection with where each student sits on the curve. Put more simply, there have to be questions that are only answered by about 50% of the students in order for comparisons to be made.

A student’s socio-economic status is highly correlated to standardized achievement test scores. This is probably due to the tests being skewed to reflect learning that children gain at home. Again there is a curriculum and testing mismatch. For example, if a question asks about a “field of work” such as law or medicine, students whose parents are in such professions may understand the concept from conversations at home. However, students whose parents work in the service industry or work at the local grocery store may not. Answering the question correctly may not be a function of what was learned at school but rather what has been learned out of school. Antagonists to standardized achievement testing suggest that it is not fair to check on student achievement that is not in the curriculum.

What instructors or textbooks focus on may not be reflected in the test. The requirement for a score spread in the exams means that questions that are answered by a majority of students will probably be removed because they do not discriminate enough.

The history of standardized testing suggests that the impetus for large-scale testing has been based on noble aspirations, primarily that of having the right person in the right place, whether that place is the correct job in the military or the correct form of education. Standardized testing has value in today’s society. Aptitude testing for admission into colleges and universities seems to be especially effective as quantitative research has established links between such testing and later success at post-secondary institutions.

Achievement testing has issues especially related to situational/environmental factors, personal/emotional factors, and grade-spread requirement that may make applicability difficult to ascertain. That is, standardized testing may be best at determining aptitude or future ability in an individual and also good at examining a school district’s efficaciousness. Standardized tests seem to be weaker at being able to correctly indicate how much a specific student has learned.

>> Back to Table of Contents

Alberta Assessment Consortium (2012). A new look at public assurance: Imagining the possibilities for Alberta students. Retrieved from http://www.aac.ab.ca/a-new-look-at-public-assurance-imagining-the-possibilities-for-alberta-students.html

Alberta Education (1997). Teaching Quality Standard applicable to the provision of basic education in Alberta. (Ministerial order #016/97). Retrieved from http://education.alberta.ca/media/6734948/teaching%20quality%20standard%20-%20english.pdf

Bew, Lord P. (2011). Independent review of key stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability, final report, as written for the Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-00068-2011

Boardman, A. G., & Woodruff, A. L. (2004). Teacher change and “high stakes” assessment: What happens to professional development. Teaching & Teacher Education, 20(6), 545-557.

Booi, L., & Couture, J. C. (2011). Testing, testing. What Alberta can learn from Finland about standardization and the role of the teacher. Alberta Views, 7, 28-32.

Brookhart, S. M. (2001). The “Standards” and classroom assessment research. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Dallas, TX. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED451189).

Burke, K. (1999). The mindful school: How to assess authentic learning (3rd ed.). Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight Publishing.

Fishman, J. A., & Pasanella, A. K. (1960). College admission selection studies. Review of Educational Research, 30(4), 298-310.

Fletcher, D. (2009, December 11). Standardized testing. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1947019,00.html

Franklin, C. A., & Snow-Gerono, J. L. (2007). Perceptions of teaching in an environment of standardized testing: Voices from the field. The Researcher, 21(1), 2-21.

Gordon, S. P., & Reese, M. (1997). High-stakes testing: Worth the price? Journal of School Leadership, 7, 345-368.

Gronlund, N., & Waugh, C. (2009). Assessment of student achievement (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Guskey, T. R., & Jung, L. A. (2013). Answers to essential questions about standards, assessments, grading, & reporting. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Kobrin, J., Patterson, B., Shaw, E., Mattern, K., & Barbuti, S. (2008). Validity of SAT for predicting first year college grade point average (Report No. 2008-5). New York, NY: College Board. Retrieved from http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Validity_of_the_SAT_for_Predicting_First_Year_College_Grade_Point_Average.pdf

McEwen, N. (1995). Accountability in education in Canada. Canadian Journal of Education, 20, 1-17.

Pedulla, J. P. (2003). State-mandated testing – What do teachers think? Educational Leadership, 61(3), 42-46.

Popham, J. (2002). Classroom assessment: What teachers need to know (3rd ed.) Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Popham, W. J. (1999). Why standardized tests don’t measure educational quality. Educational Leadership, 56(6), 8-15.

Reynolds, C., Livingston, R., & Willson, V. (2009). Measurement and assessment in education (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Stiggins, R. J. (1999). Are you assessment literate? The High School Journal, 6(5), 20-23.

Stiggins, R. J. (2008). An introduction to student-involved assessment for learning (5th ed.). Columbus, OH: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.

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The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

Whitby School

Standardized testing has ignited a national debate in the last few years (or decades), and many parents feel understandably concerned about their children being judged on the basis of tests that, in some cases, don’t seem to reliably correlate with actual learning or with successful college and career outcomes.

In the United States, both public and private schools use standardized assessments each school year. In public schools, students must undergo many tests to ensure they are meeting state or federal standards. Private schools have more leeway, although at Whitby we do require our students from Grade 2 on to complete the Comprehensive Testing Program from the Educational Records Bureau and the International Schools Assessment from the Australian Council for Educational Research.

At Whitby, we believe that standardized testing can benefit students—as long as it’s looked at in the right light. Below we’ll discuss some of the benefits of standardized assessments, as well as some of the ways standardised assessments can be negative for students.

Pro # 1. Standardized testing is a metric for learning

When Whitby students are assessed through standardized testing, we gain a valuable metric we can use to check the quality of our curriculum. With exams created and given by an independent organization, standardized test scores are useful because they come from a neutral source and give us data that we can compare to other independent schools across the United States and with other international schools across the globe.

Pro # 2. Standardized testing helps pinpoint areas for improvement

When we receive standardized test data at Whitby, we use it to evaluate the effectiveness of our education program. We view standardized testing data as not only another set of data points to assess student performance , but also as a means to help us reflect on our curriculum. When we look at Whitby’s assessment data, we can compare our students to their peers at other schools to determine what we’re doing well within our educational continuum and where we need to invest more time and resources.

Pro # 3. Standardized tests can help schools evaluate progress

Assessment data is also useful for year-over-year internal comparisons. We compare data over a number of years to find trends—and then trace any changes back to their source. If the math scores of our fourth grade students suddenly jump, we want to identify what change led to the improved performance, and how we can continue to implement this within our curriculum. We’re also able to use a student’s historical assessment data to monitor their progress and uncover any challenges they may need to overcome (as well as identifying places where they have already improved and excelled.)

Now let’s take a look at what we view as the most concerning aspects of standardized assessment:

Con #1. Test scores can impact confidence

A big disadvantage of standardized testing is that it’s easy to interpret a student’s score as the sole judgement of that student’s ability. We’re constantly emphasizing at Whitby that the number is only one point of data within an array of internal assessments across many subject areas that provide us with information on a student’s learning progress. There are many cases where students have demonstrated clear understanding within a subject or concept through various assessments, but aren’t as skilled at taking multiple choice tests. Nevertheless, it can be hard on a student if they feel that they didn’t perform as well as they’d like. In worst case scenarios, instead of determining the entire picture of learning through a review of all assessment data with their teachers, a student might determine their success based on a standardized test score that is taken once a year..

Con #2. There’s pressure to “teach to the test”

When standardized exams become all important in a school or district, it has a massive impact on teaching and learning. Educators frequently start “teaching to the test” if they feel that their evaluations (and jobs) solely depend on how well students perform. Educators may also stop trying new techniques and teaching methods in the classroom. With every minute counting on the way to their students’ next exam, teachers will worry that an untested method will backfire and their students will score worse than before. This comes at the cost of inquiry, engagement, creativity and risk taking in student learning.

Con #3. Scores don’t provide a true picture of a student’s ability

Far too many people wrongly assume that standardized testing data provides a neutral authoritative assessment of a child’s intellectual ability. Cultural factors, unfamiliarity with testing methods, test anxiety, and illness can wreak havoc with how well a student performs. For that reason, it’s important to dig deeper when looking at a student’s test scores. Does a low score indicate a lack of knowledge about the subject or a problem with taking the standardized test? For example, an excellent writer could struggle with picking out the right answer in a multiple choice grammar and punctuation test. Yet that same student could excel at composing well-thought out, logical essays about the literature they read and enjoyed in class.

It’s also easy to assume that students who score high in math are good at processing information and reasoning abstractly, but that’s not always the case. In fact, researchers have found that high standardized scores have little correlation with memory, attention and processing speed. High test scores could simply mean a student excels at rote memorization and multiple choice test taking.

Our Final Assessment

Standardized testing is truthfully a very difficult issue, because we do need internal and external assessments to measure student success. Assessments are useful when they’re used as data to help schools improve the quality of the teaching and learning. They become harmful, however, when tests are used to judge students’ natural abilities and when educators are put under pressure to “teach to the test.” Schools and parents should always look at standardized tests not as a value judgement on the student, but as an additional data point that can provide some perspective on student learning.

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Pros & Cons of Standardized Testing for College Admissions

Debates around standardized testing have been around for as long as standardized test scores have been part of education in the United States. Some argue that students undergo too much testing: by their high schools, by the state, for college admissions, etc. Others argue that standardized tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, are the only fair way to evaluate student achievement.

During the past seventy-five years, arguments about the value of the SAT and the ACT have not eliminated these tests. Yet, these tests have changed. The SAT, for instance, was originally intended to be an IQ test, a perfect encapsulation of a student’s intelligence. Now, college admissions officers know that an SAT score is not a whole picture of a high school student’s abilities. It’s just one piece among many they use to evaluate applicants.

Nevertheless, knowing some of the pros and cons of standardized testing can help you better understand the American education system as a whole and how to approach it.

The Pros of Standardized Testing for College Admissions

Below, you can find some of the major arguments in favor of standardized testing. Schools, colleges, and states that require standardized testing generally believe these to be true, even if they are also aware of some of the downsides to standardized tests (see below).

Standardized Testing Is Fair

This is probably the biggest argument proponents of standardized testing, using the SAT or ACT for college admissions, make: it’s fair. It’s a single test, taken under equal conditions, to measure student achievement fairly. By this logic, standardized test scores from the SAT and ACT are some of the only aspects of a student’s academic performance that aren’t determined by their town or school.

It Creates a Universal Standard for Education

The obvious purpose of standardized testing is to create a standard. Proponents of standardized testing argue that some kind of examination outside of school curricula—which can vary widely by school district—can help an education system better compare students from very different backgrounds because all these students took the exact same test. By measuring students against that universal standard, it becomes easier to evaluate and rank them.

It Holds Teachers and Students Accountable

In the same way that standardized tests provide a standard to measure students, they can also help set larger educational standards for schools across a state or country. Standardized tests make educational initiatives like No Child Left Behind or the Common Core more concrete by checking students’ academic progress. If students in particular school districts are struggling to perform at grade level, superintendents and governments know to get involved.

The SAT and ACT Shows Analytical Progress

Standardized testing can also help standardize individual students’ educations. In addition to comparing students against one another or identifying problematic schools or districts, standardized tests can also illustrate student progress over time. Taking the same or similar tests over the years can allow students to indicate measurable improvement.

It Provides an Inclusive Opportunity

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, can give students from under-performing high schools a chance to prove that they have mastered ample academic material despite their circumstances. Because standardized tests are not tied to any one high school curriculum, they can offer an inclusive opportunity for students to highlight their successful performance. Proponents argue that standardized testing can help level the playing field in public education.

Many Professionals Must Take High-Stakes Standardized Tests

Finally, while much of the arguing around standardized testing is focused on high school students and younger, the fact is that standardized testing is often a fact of life well beyond secondary school. Anyone who wants to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, actuary, architect, or practitioner of another specialized profession will eventually have to excel at a standardized test. Given that, why not become familiar with test-taking in secondary school?

The Cons of Standardized Testing

On the other hand, many people do not consider the SAT and ACT to be valuable or valid assessment tool for evaluating student performance. This is why some school systems are pushing back on things like Common Core state standards and ever more colleges are becoming test-optional . Below you’ll find some of the main arguments against standardized testing.

The SAT and ACT Don’t Measure Intelligence—Only Wealth

While proponents argue that standardized tests provide an objective measure of student achievement, the data is more complicated. In fact, research suggests that the best predictor of success on the SAT is socioeconomic status rather than one’s education or grade level. Opponents of the SAT argue that this inequity arises because wealthy families have the time and money for test preparation resources and services, which essentially means that a good score can be purchased.

It Restricts Teachers’ Effectiveness and Creativity

Another major argument is that an over-reliance on test data to measure student performance negatively impacts teachers’ ability to actually do their jobs. A standardized test at the end of the school year can disrupt a teacher’s curricular plan and force him or her to cover material that might be less relevant to his or her students. Similarly, many teachers find constant testing over the course of the year to be disruptive and unproductive to student learning.

The SAT and ACT Can Negatively Impact Students’ Confidence

Another argument is that standardized testing, such as the SAT and ACT, causes otherwise successful students to lose confidence in themselves and their abilities. Many students suffer from test anxiety, meaning that they do not perform at their usual level because they find the experience of test-taking so stressful. Evaluating a student’s performance only through an impartial test can also negatively affect graduation rates if low scores demoralize students.

The SAT and ACT Unfairly Affect Public School Funding

Because standardized testing data is a matter of public record, it affects funding for public schools. However, many private schools are exempt from state and federal testing requirements, which means that those students are not bound to the same testing cycle. Meanwhile, public schools that face more significant challenges can end up being cut off from the state and federal support they need if their test results are not making the grade.

It’s Unfair to Certain Types of Learners

In addition to being unfair to low-income students, standardized tests often misrepresent the academic abilities of English Language Learner (ELL) students and students with special needs . Although testing accommodations exist, these tests are still designed with a particular student in mind. Opponents of standardized tests argue that anyone who deviates from that ideal, for whatever reason, is automatically at a disadvantage.

The SAT and ACT Don’t Predict Future Success

Ideally, a standardized test would evaluate not just what a student knows already, but also his or her learning potential. After all, colleges that use the SAT and ACT do so because they want to admit students who will succeed on their campuses. But opponents of these tests point to research that suggests that, in fact, the SAT and ACT are poor predictors of student success at the undergraduate level.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, students and families don’t always have much of a say in what standardized tests they do or don’t have to take. That decision is generally up to schools, school districts, college admissions offices, and graduate and professional programs. No matter where you come down on the arguments for and against standardized testing, there’s a good chance you’re going to have to take a few of them over the course of your education.

Nevertheless, being knowledgeable about the subject can make you a more informed and prepared test-taker. Knowing what the goals of these tests are, as well as their potential downsides, will ultimately be an advantage as you navigate the process. If you are wondering how you can start improving your grades and test scores, or if you’re looking for help designing a test strategy for you, reach out to one of our expert admissions consultants here !

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Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing – Part Two

“We test the children’s learning with admittedly limited instruments—standardized tests—that were never designed to be used as a standalone analysis.”

Margaret Pastor, PhD

The use of standardized testing in American education comes with widespread debate. Pros and cons are batted back and forth like a tennis ball on the court of public opinion and educational policy.

In this two-part series on standardized testing, the pros and cons of this flashpoint topic offer a fascinating glance into a complex issue. Part One explored some of the common arguments for standardized testing and examined four specific benefits:

• Comparisons and Accountability
• Individual Progress Charted
• Span Various Educational Options

This peek into the positive side of standardized testing can be found here .

This follow-up post will give opponents their time in the spotlight. Critics of standardized testing offer valid objections for you to consider in deciding the best approach for your kids. So without further ado…the cons of standardized testing.

“Education is the fundamental principle of what makes America a success. It is the foundation of what truly makes our country ‘The Land of Opportunity.’”

Dr. Ben Carson

Objections to Standardized Testing

1. it discriminates against bad test takers.

Many students do not perform well under pressure in a standardized testing environment. As a result, students who excel at test taking have a clear advantage over students who do not.

Standardized tests don’t necessarily measure a student’s knowledge and skills. Instead, they reward those who are good at taking tests under stressful conditions. Unfortunately, this testing fails to accurately assess a student’s abilities in other crucial areas such as critical thinking or innovative problem-solving.

Educational Researcher published a study in 2018 showing that male and female students consistently perform differently based on test format . Multiple choice questions repeatedly favored male students, while female students excelled with open-ended questions.

The study concluded that differences in question formats explain approximately 25% of the variation in achievement gaps across states and districts. This leads to questions concerning the accuracy of the tests’ data.

Many also argue that students who consistently underperform on standardized tests are negatively impacted emotionally and mentally. Self-confidence often plummets as test after test fails to accurately reflect their true abilities and knowledge.

Spark Admissions further explores this problem : “… Standardized testing causes otherwise successful students to lose confidence in themselves and their abilities. Many students suffer from test anxiety, meaning that they do not perform at their usual level because they find the experience of test-taking so stressful.”

2. It Negatively Impacts Teachers

Critics of standardized testing have noted that the tests have a negative impact on teachers themselves. American University’s School of Education outlines a few of these objections:

The need to meet specific testing standards pressures teachers to “teach to the test” rather than providing a broad curriculum.

Teachers have expressed frustration about the time it takes to prepare for and administer tests.

Teachers may feel excessive pressure from their schools and administrators to improve their standardized test scores.

Standardized tests measure achievement against goals rather than measuring progress.

Achievement test scores are commonly assumed to have a strong correlation with teaching effectiveness, a tendency that can place unfair blame on good teachers if scores are low and obscure teaching deficiencies if scores are high.

Quote taken from “ Effects of Standardized Testing on Students & Teachers .”

As The National Center for Fair and Open Testing points out , quality teaching and effective learning will continue to decline as educators’ careers ride on test data instead of worthy teaching methods. Also noted is the concern that these conditions will continue to drive current teachers from the workplace, and will also deter “strong young candidates from becoming teachers or principals” as well.

Education Week observes that good teachers work with their students through all the variables of learning . Teachers know their students inside and out; they recognize strengths and weaknesses far more effectively than the tests. With this in mind, it’s unfair to penalize both teacher and student based on a partial picture of progress.

3. It Identifies Weaknesses While Neglecting Strengths

Another objection to standardized testing is that it merely identifies a student’s weaknesses. With its limited scope of evaluation, this testing ignores a student’s strengths.

Psychology Today summarizes this con : “The only thing that standardized tests can measure is whether or not a student falls short … The best thing a standardized test can say about you is that you don’t possess readily identifiable weaknesses. Standardized tests only measure the absence of weakness. They do not measure the presence of strength.”

Similarly, there is a rising concern that even positive test scores may not actually reflect a student’s true knowledge. Researchers from King’s College London published a 2015 study with unintended implications concerning the reliability of test results.

“If students do increasingly better on their standardized tests, a question arises- are students improving their broader learning or are the higher scores a result of teaching to the test?” questions Sites at Penn State . “The stronger the pressure for teachers to improve their students’ test scores, the more likely teachers are to resort to questionable measure to do so… Interestingly, educators teaching in schools with increasing test scores feel the most pressure in comparison to schools with stagnant or decreasing test scores.”

However, Psychology Today ends their earlier objection with a positive note , “This is not, however, a definite argument against standardized tests. There is one kind of strength they can measure: how well a student takes standardized tests. That shouldn’t be the only kind of strength we’re interested in. But it shouldn’t be discarded either.”

4. It Creates Classroom Inequality

“Students want to succeed, and teachers want their students to succeed, and academic success is, now more than ever, measured in terms of test scores … Tests have always ranked students, but in the age of standardized testing, tests also rank not only public school teachers but public schools themselves …” This excerpt from Salon.com underlines another major problem with standardized testing in education.

Standardized testing has a limited view of successful learning and improvement. Instead of looking at each student as a whole person, it breaks the child down into specific academic sub-categories such as math or writing. As a result, the test data can give a skewed view of a student. This can leave some students to learn on their own while others receive undue attention from the teacher.

Good teachers will work to give their more “difficult learners” a better chance at doing well on their standardized tests. Because of this, teachers may offer these students extra attention in order to help them prepare and study.

As noted in an earlier point, teachers’ job security is often linked to test results as well. This, combined with a genuine interest in their students’ well-being, may result in classroom inequality.

“Based on the classroom grades achieved, a teacher might receive a raise or be fired from their job. This creates a host of learning problems,” explains finance blog Vittana. “For starters, only the students who are performing poorly on testing simulations receive a majority of the attention from the teacher, leaving good students to fend for themselves. Teachers then begin to ‘teach to the test’ instead of teaching subject materials to obtain needed results.”

Standardized testing has shifted the emphasis of education from “learning” to “passing.” As a result, the focus of teachers in the classroom has shifted as well. Standardized tests tend to create a competitive learning environment that can be detrimental to academic success, quality teaching, and effective learning.

Standardized Testing: A Balance

Standardized testing is more than likely not going anywhere. As a general measure of assessment for students, teachers, and schools, advocates and critics alike acknowledge that the tests have at least some value. The trick seems to be developing a balance between valid uses for the test data and allowing for other methods of assessment.

VitaEducation notes that, for at least some critics, standardized tests themselves aren’t even the larger issue. Instead, it’s how the results are used : “Many objections voiced by the anti-testing movement are really objections to NCLB’s ( No Child Left Behind ) use of test results, not to standardized tests themselves.”

Walt Gardener of EducationWeek suggests that the US model their use of standardized testing after that of Finland . He notes that Finland uses “standardized tests strictly for diagnostic purposes, and never makes the results public.” As a result, teachers and students benefit, while reaping none of the anxiety so often observed with American testing.

Critics of standardized testing have offered numerous solutions for a more balanced use of test results. Whether Finland’s approach is the answer or not, it seems obvious that both the pros and cons for standardized testing have merit.

Standardized testing is a helpful tool, though certainly not comprehensive. When combined with data from other sources, it can offer insightful context. For people with students’ well-being in mind, a good balance seems to be the ultimate goal.

Whitby School sums this up nicely : “Standardized testing is truthfully a very difficult issue because we do need internal and external assessments to measure student success … Schools and parents should always look at standardized tests not as a value judgment on the student, but as an additional data point that can provide some perspective on student learning.”

Did you miss the first part of this discussion? Read part one here .

The Noah Webster Educational Foundation believes in implementing evidence-based instructional practices in America’s classrooms. Want to join the national education conversation? Check out our resources and sign up for updates at nwef.org .

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Pedagogy — Standardized Testing

Essays on Standardized Testing

Hook examples for standardized testing, anecdotal hook.

"Picture this: a stressed student sitting at a desk, pencil in hand, facing a standardized test that could determine their future. We've all been there, but what are the real consequences of these high-stakes exams?"

Rhetorical Question Hook

"Is standardized testing a fair and accurate measure of a student's knowledge and abilities, or is it merely a snapshot of their test-taking skills on a given day?"

Startling Statistic Hook

"In the United States, students take over 112 standardized tests on average by the time they graduate from high school. Are we truly measuring learning, or drowning in a sea of assessments?"

"Albert Einstein once said, 'Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.' How does this wisdom from one of the greatest minds in history apply to our obsession with standardized testing?"

Historical Hook

"Standardized testing has a long history dating back to China's imperial exams. How has this centuries-old practice evolved, and what lessons can we learn from its past?"

Narrative Hook

"Let me take you on a journey through the life of a student preparing for the SAT. Their experiences, challenges, and triumphs reveal the true impact of standardized testing on individuals."

Contrast Hook

"In an era of personalized learning and diverse educational approaches, standardized testing seems like a one-size-fits-all solution. But does it truly accommodate the unique needs and talents of every student?"

Emotional Appeal Hook

"Behind every test score is a student's ambition, a teacher's dedication, and a family's hopes. Standardized testing decisions can carry immense emotional weight—what happens when they don't align with our aspirations?"

Shocking Scenario Hook

"Imagine a world where students are reduced to mere test scores, where creativity and critical thinking are overshadowed by the pursuit of higher metrics. Is this the future we want for our education system?"

Curiosity Hook

"What if I told you that Finland, a country renowned for its educational success, has minimal standardized testing? Exploring this unconventional approach may challenge our notions of assessment."

The Issues and Negative Effects of Standardized Testing

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Standardized Testing Should Be Abolished in American Schools

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Ainsworth’s Strange Situation: Pros and Cons

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A Reflection on Taking an Implicit Association Test

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A standardized test is a method of assessment built on the principle of consistency: all test takers are required to answer the same questions and all answers are graded in the same, predetermined way.

Achievement tests, Aptitude tests, College-admissions tests, International-comparison tests, Psychological tests.

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How Useful Are Standardized Tests?

To the Editor:

“ In Defense of Annual School Testing ,” by Chad Aldeman (Op-Ed, Feb. 7), argues that Washington should continue to require states to give each student standardized tests each year.

Federal and state governments have a legitimate interest in knowing whether cohorts of students are making appropriate progress as they go through school. It’s possible to gather that information by testing less frequently and by using sampling techniques similar to those employed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Districts, schools and teachers all have a responsibility to measure students’ learning frequently — far more often than once a year — in order to help them grow. Standardized tests are among the measures they use. But the same ones aren’t equally useful or necessary in every school or district; different measures can provide different kinds of information, offering more or less insight into the needs of a particular student or group of children.

Information about student progress, including test results, should be readily available to parents and communities. Federal and state testing can be significantly less invasive than it is and still provide accountability. There’s no reason to require that all children in a state take the same standardized exams every year.

MICHAEL V. McGILL

Morris, Conn.

The writer is director of the district leadership and reform program at Bank Street College of Education and former superintendent of schools in Scarsdale, N.Y.

Chad Aldeman praises standardized tests for allowing for “a much more nuanced look at student performance.” I’m a teacher, and the only thing I know about the test is what my students scored on it. We receive no feedback at all. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong as a teacher, or what I could do differently next year. My students don’t get that feedback either.

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Standardized tests are defined as "any test that's administered, scored, and interpreted in a standard, predetermined manner," according to by W. James Popham, former President of the American Educational Research Association. The tests often have multiple-choice questions that can be quickly graded by automated test scoring machines.

Pros of Standardized Tests Cons of Standardized Tests; PRO: They enable schools to track student progress. CON: A single test cannot sufficiently tell a student's knowledge. If the student has a bad day, it sticks with them! PRO: They help teachers to identify areas for improvement. CON: Standardized tests cause stress and anxiety for children. PRO: They help keep schools accountable to ...

A. The purpose and goals of standardized tests. Assessing student knowledge and skills: Standardized tests are designed to measure the knowledge and skills that students have acquired in various subject areas. These tests typically cover a wide range of topics, including math, science, language arts, and social studies.

The Disadvantages of Standardized Testing. While standardized testing offers a range of benefits, it also has some major drawbacks. The disadvantages of standardized testing not only obstructs the potential success of a school improvement plan, but goes against several key aspects of improvement science. 1. Teaching to the Test

Cons of Standardized Testing 1. Narrow Focus on Testing Content. 🎯 Critics argue that standardized testing promotes a narrow focus on test-specific content, often neglecting other important aspects of education. Teachers may feel pressured to teach to the test, sacrificing creative and critical thinking, as well as social and emotional ...

This means a standardized test isn't always an accurate reflection of the intelligence a student has. 2. They can change how teachers actually teach in the classroom. Because teacher evaluations are based on the results of standardized tests, it has caused many teachers to change their classroom approach.

Examining the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. Like many issues in public education, standardized testing can be a controversial topic among parents, teachers, and voters. Many people say standardized testing provides an accurate measurement of student performance and teacher effectiveness. Others say such a one-size-fits-all approach to ...

Balancing the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. Standardized testing has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, these tests help educators pinpoint learning gaps by comparing student knowledge. However, it's worth noting that a deep understanding of a subject doesn't always translate into top test results. Still, having solid ...

In a standardized test, every student responds to the same questions (or questions from same question bank), under the exact same set of conditions. They are often made up of multiple-choice questions and are given on paper or (more commonly these days) on a computer.

Importance of Standardized Testing. To begin with, standardized testing has been a cornerstone of the education system for decades. It is used to assess student performance, determine school funding, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. Proponents of standardized testing argue that it provides a consistent and objective ...

With so many different cultures, personalities, learning styles, and individual qualities of students in American classrooms, standardized testing seems rather counterproductive and ineffective in providing a classroom that. promotes success outside of testing. This research essay will seek to bring attention to the.

There are other forms of standardized testing that are available other than multiple-choice questions, for example, essay writing. This form of testing currently has the disadvantage of needing markers to assess the essays. Essay markers must be trained to gain a sense of what the standards are. ... Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing.

Con #3. Scores don't provide a true picture of a student's ability. Far too many people wrongly assume that standardized testing data provides a neutral authoritative assessment of a child's intellectual ability. Cultural factors, unfamiliarity with testing methods, test anxiety, and illness can wreak havoc with how well a student performs.

This is probably the biggest argument proponents of standardized testing, using the SAT or ACT for college admissions, make: it's fair. It's a single test, taken under equal conditions, to measure student achievement fairly. By this logic, standardized test scores from the SAT and ACT are some of the only aspects of a student's academic ...

Standardized Testing has many cons compared to pros. The biggest con of all is the stress it puts on students and teachers alike. The stress it puts on teachers is that sometimes teacher's teach according to the test because they want to. Free Essay: Standardized testing is a down fall to many students but also an opportunity for many others.

Again, standardized tests are a good measure of a student's achievement, the standardized tests and increased testing are a better college preparation, and the testing is not too stressful for students. Immediately, we need to call the United States Department of Education and tell them that standardized tests should be kept in schools. Sources.

The use of standardized testing in American education comes with widespread debate. Pros and cons are batted back and forth like a tennis ball on the court of public opinion and educational policy. In this two-part series on standardized testing, the pros and cons of this flashpoint topic offer a fascinating glance into a complex issue.

4 pages / 1654 words. Standardized tests have long been a cornerstone of the education system, offering a systematic way to evaluate student learning and achievement. In this essay, we will explore the purpose and function of standardized tests, examining how they are used in educational contexts.

However, some standardized tests include essay questions, matching questions, or even spoken items. ... In addition to disagreement on the perceived pros and cons of standardized testing, some ...

Standardized testing is "a simplified way of timeline management" (A Look at the Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing). Standardized testing gives parents a good idea of how their children are doing as compared to students across the country and. Free Essay: Argumentative Essay: Standardized Testing "Standardized testing has become the ...

Standardized tests are among the measures they use. But the same ones aren't equally useful or necessary in every school or district; different measures can provide different kinds of ...

On standardized tests, test-takers usually cannot ask the proctor clarifying questions, and must independently complete their answer sheets. FoK has been used to explain the alleged underperformance of marginalized communities (e.g. students of color) as the knowledge acquired at home is not measured or valued in the same way as in-school ...

Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing Essay. Good Essays. 1919 Words. 8 Pages. Open Document. The United States recognizes that standardized testing is a central part of the educational system in our country. What many people do not know though is the history of where it came from. Beginning in the mid-1800's prestigious universities decided ...

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coursework in the resume

How to list relevant coursework on resume [tips & examples].

If you’re a college student, recent graduate, or entry-level professional, chances are you don’t have a lot of professional experience to list on your resume. 

This, in turn, might make you feel insecure about your application, especially considering that the work experience section is among the most important section of a resume. 

Well, listing your relevant coursework might just be the answer!

By listing the courses that are relevant to the job position or internship you’re applying for, you can show recruiters that while you don’t have much work experience, you have the right skills and knowledge for the job.

But what is the right way to list relevant coursework on your resume and is there a time when you shouldn’t list it all? And what exactly is relevant, to begin with?

In this article, we’re going to answer all those questions and more. Read on to learn:

When Is Relevant Coursework Necessary on a Resume?

• How to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 3 Steps

7 Tips on Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

Resume example with relevant coursework.

And more! Let’s dive right in. 

What Makes Coursework Relevant?

Professional experience is one of the most important sections of a successful resume, but you first need to land a job to start building it. 

Which begs the question, how can a recent graduate or entry-level professional prove they’ve got what it takes for an entry-level position with no, or minimal, professional experience ? 

Well, this is where coursework comes in. 

Together with academic projects and achievements, as well as extracurricular activities, listing relevant coursework can help students and entry-level professionals show they’ve got the necessary skills for the job despite not having the relevant professional experience.

The coursework you list on your resume should actually be related to the position you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a graphic designer, listing your achievements in your World History class won’t really impress recruiters. If, on the other hand, you mention that you were top of your class in Design and Layout , you’ll be effectively showing recruiters that you have great potential as an up-and-coming graphic designer. 

To sum things up, here are the top cases when relevant coursework is necessary on a resume:

• When you’re still a student
• When you’re applying with an entry-level resume
• When you’re applying for an internship
• When the coursework is directly related to the job position 

If, on the other hand, you have 2+ years of work experience in the field, as well as the needed skill-set, coursework on your resume will only take up space and can be skipped entirely.

Checking the job description is another way of determining whether you should add relevant coursework to your resume. If, for example, the job description requires that you list your majors, GPA, diploma, or portfolio, chances are they’ll also be interested in your coursework, especially if it’s relevant to the position. 

How to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 3 Steps 

So you’ve established that you should include relevant coursework on your resume. Now, you may be wondering where exactly to include it. 

As a rule of thumb, coursework is listed under an applicant’s education history. Depending on whether you have any professional experience to list, the education section may come before or after the work experience section. 

Here are the four best ways to add relevant coursework to your resume: 

#1. Add a New Line in Your Education Section

Instead of creating a fresh section called “Relevant Coursework,” you’re better off just adding the courses to your education section.

As a student resume can be one-page max , this helps you to save up the space needed for other essential resume sections.

Here’s a practical example of what this looks like on the resume of a recent graduate applying for a high-school teaching position: 

BA in World Literature 

UC Berkeley

2012 - 2016

Relevant coursework: British Literature, American Literature, Medieval Literature, William Shakespeare, Language and Cognitive Development 

#2. List Your Relevant Coursework in Bullet Points

To make your relevant coursework more visible and reader-friendly, list them in bullet points underneath your diploma title. 

Here’s how the above Literature graduate’s resume would look like following this formatting: 

Relevant Coursework: 

• British Literature
• American Literature 
• Medieval Literature 
• William Shakespeare 
• Language and Cognitive Development

#3. Explain How The Coursework is Relevant to the Position 

Finally, if you want to take your relevant coursework resume section to the next level, add detailed explanations to your courses to support how they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for or how they helped develop your skill-set. 

A recent study found that companies are suspending the use of degree completion as a proxy and instead now favor hiring on the basis of demonstrated skills and competencies . This means that your relevant coursework should aim to show exactly how it has helped you acquire the skills required for the position. 

Here’s an example of how that would play out for a journalism student applying for an entry-level reporting job at a newspaper:

B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication

Northwestern University, IL

2015 - 2018

• Writing and Reporting: Learned the ins and outs of news reporting through several practical assignments and exams.
• Media Ethics: Got introduced to the most essential ethical theories and decision-making strategies in journalism and wrote a paper on Ethical Journalism and Human Rights that got published in the Political Communication Journal.
• Gathering and Developing the News: Gained first-hand experience in interviewing, researching, newsgathering, and communicating with sources.

To make sure your coursework is as relevant as possible, check out the required skills in the job description. If you have taken classes that have helped you master those skills, then make sure to mention how by adding all the necessary details, as shown above. 

Here are seven tips you should always keep in mind when listing coursework on your resume: 

• Take advantage of keywords . When evaluating your resume, recruiters scan it to look for the keywords that were mentioned in the job description (e.g. skills, experiences, etc.). You can re-read the job ad and, where relevant, include these keywords in your coursework section.
• Tailor your resume to the job offer.  In order for your coursework to add value to your resume, it really needs to be relevant. So, if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t take academic background into consideration or that’s completely unrelated to your major, you’re better off omitting coursework altogether and focusing on other important sections, such as your hard and soft skills. 
• List online courses. If you’ve completed some online courses that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, feel free to also include them under relevant coursework. 
• Add value through other academic achievements. Relevant coursework can say a lot about your potential, but recruiters will be even more easily convinced if you support it with other academic achievements, including your GPA, extracurricular activities, etc. 
• Show how you’ve grown. When you’re explaining your relevant coursework in detail, you can include how you’ve grown by listing all the skills you acquired in the process. Those can be both soft skills, like communication and interpersonal skills, and hard skills like programming or doing extensive research. 
• Change the relevant coursework as you progress. Many college students start working in their freshman year. If that’s the case with you, make sure to update your resume from year to year to reflect your academic journey and most recently acquired skills. 
• Check for errors. A well-written, error-free resume shows that you’re attentive to detail and that you care to make a good impression. 

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! You now have all the necessary information to add relevant coursework to your resume effectively. 

Before you start working on your resume, though, here’s a brief summary of the key points covered in this article:

• Listing relevant coursework on your resume is not mandatory but can be very helpful if you’re a student or an entry-level professional.
• If you have at least a year of professional experience, drop your relevant coursework and focus on tailoring your work experience and skills sections to the position. 
• Relevant coursework typically goes under the education section. You can either give a general or a detailed summary of your coursework. 
• You can make a separate relevant coursework section only if the job you’re applying for requires a strong academic record. 
• Your coursework needs to be relevant to the position. This means you should leave them out of your resume if they have nothing to do with the role.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Include Relevant...

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on September 11, 2023

If you are a recent graduate struggling with a lack of work experience, knowing how to include relevant coursework on a resume can be one of the best ways to create a more compelling resume narrative.

One thing that many recent college graduates have in common with one another is a general lack of work experience. That lack of experience can sometimes make it difficult for them to construct a resume that sells their potential to be the best candidate for a job. Fortunately, there are ways to still create a strong and compelling resume, even without experience. For example, did you take classes that might be relevant to the position? If so, including relevant coursework on your resume may be the perfect solution to your resume challenges.

In this post, we will explain how you can identify relevant coursework and where it should be listed in your resume. We will also include several examples of relevant coursework on a resume so that you can see the best options for using these details to strengthen your job search efforts.

What is relevant coursework?

Of course, when we talk about relevant coursework, we are talking about those classes and educational activities that have direct relevance to the position you are seeking. The first thing you need to recognize is that many of the classes you took during your college career will not need to be included in your resume. After all, most degrees require that students complete any number of basic foundational courses that will have little if any relation to their chosen job — at least from a resume standpoint. 

So, what types of classes, achievements, and activities should you focus on as you identify suitable courses to add to your resume? While this sounds like a simple question, it actually requires some serious thought and evaluation. Fortunately, there are some basic rules that you can follow as you make that determination. Below are just some of the potentially relevant things that you might want to include in your resume: 

Coursework that demonstrates that you have a foundation of knowledge in a required aspect of the job you are seeking. For example, if communication skills are needed for the position, you should include courses that focused on business communications, writing, etc.

Projects that are related to particular job skills. For a marketing position, you should include any marketing-related projects you completed during your studies. Or you could include research projects you engaged in if you are seeking a job where research skills are essential.

Academic achievements can also be included, including notably high GPA scores or awards you received. Also, be sure to include any related extracurricular activities. That could include everything from clubs to sporting activities if they helped you develop skills that would be useful for the job.

Again, do not include coursework that has no bearing on the job at hand. This will require you to carefully consider each course to determine its relevance. One way to do that is to read the job posting and select keywords and phrases of import that seem to be describing the skills or educational qualifications needed for the job. Then go through your coursework and try to match courses to those skills. As you do so, remember that some basic courses like those involving communication—both written and verbal—may be included, since communication is one of those soft skills that every company values .

You can learn more about the difference between hard and soft skills by reading our excellent article, Key Differences Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills . A better understanding of those critical soft skills can help to ensure that you don't underestimate the value of any of your classes. There's a great chance that you have more marketable soft skills than you realize! 

When should you include relevant courses on your resume?

Before you add your job-related classes to your resume, you should decide whether it is necessary. For example, you can almost certainly benefit from including your relevant coursework on your resume if: 

You recently graduated from school or are beginning the process of looking for a job because you are close to graduation. Students and recent graduates typically have little or no real job experience to highlight skills. Fortunately, their studies and project assignments will likely have helped them to develop important skills that they can highlight in their resumes.

Your educational achievements are necessary to qualify for the position you are seeking. In those instances, your prospective employer will be interested in knowing that you have fulfilled those requirements and have the basic knowledge needed for the position.

There may also be times when you need to include coursework even after you have been in the workforce for some time. For example, if you are switching careers and your current work experience does not include the skills needed for your new job, that may not matter as much if you can show that your studies prepared you for the role. 

Including coursework related to your minor

As you select relevant coursework for your resume, don't forget to consider courses of study related to your minor too. Hopefully, you will have selected a minor that is at least tangentially related to your desired career path. If so, then chances are that some of the courses you completed may have some relevance that can translate to a useful resume listing. For more information about minors and when they can be added to your resume, read How to Include a Minor on Your Resume .

When should I take coursework off my resume?

Obviously, there will be times when you should forgo any mention of your courses in your resume. Some examples of situations where you might not need to list your specific coursework include:

When your coursework is not really relevant to the position you seek. Including irrelevant coursework could actually distract from your important skills and experiences.

Situations in which coursework was completed so long ago that the information is no longer useful. For instance, many technology-related courses can lose their value over time. Other examples include old marketing courses and other educational achievements that involve skills that have evolved rapidly in recent years.

If your resume is already filled with enough work experience and skills that there is no need or room for specific course details. Remember, you want to add your courses to enhance your value as an employee. If adding a particular course does nothing more than add length to the resume, skip it. 

Where should relevant coursework be listed in your resume?

In most resumes, the coursework should be placed in the education section, with a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.” When creating this part of the education section, you should insert the subheading under the name of your degree, with a list of the courses you studied. For example:

Bachelor's in [Name of Degree]

[College Name, City, Graduation Date]

Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3], [Course 4], [Course 5]

Alternatively, you can also opt to show your courses in a bullet-point list if your resume is short and you need to fill more space. You can even elaborate on each course with a few words to describe the skills you learned in class. For example:

Relevant Coursework:

If you have no actual work experience, you may even want to consider using your education section as a substitute for that experience section. If you choose that option, you may want to place the education section closer to the top of your resume and flesh out each course in the same way you would detail a job listing in your work experience section. That means using detailed descriptions that include quantifiable results highlighting your achievements.

Key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework

Before we show you some examples of how to list relevant coursework on your resume, there are a few tips that can help to ensure that your final product is as compelling as possible. By incorporating these ideas into your resume creation process, you can more effectively make that all-important great first impression on any hiring manager.

Only list relevant coursework if you lack sufficient work experience to meet the job requirements.

Always make sure that the courses you list highlight skills and knowledge needed for the position. If a course has nothing to do with your chosen line of work, it has no place in your resume.

Relevant courses may be related to hard and soft skills.

If you choose to use descriptions for each course, use that as an opportunity to insert relevant keywords from the job description. This can be a great way to ensure that your resume can get past any applicant tracking system .

Always proofread your entire resume to eliminate spelling mistakes, punctuation and grammar errors, and style or formatting discrepancies.

Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you want. Since you will likely be applying for different jobs during your job search, you may need to modify your educational coursework details to align with the needs of each position.

Do not forget to include important skill information in your coursework descriptions. Again, try to use those job description keywords.

If you are maintaining an updated resume throughout your educational career, be sure to continually edit your resume as your coursework evolves over time. This can make it easier to keep it updated and can save you some time when your job search begins.

3 Examples of relevant coursework on a resume

In this final section, we will explore some different examples to show you how you can successfully incorporate relevant coursework into your resume. We have included a couple of examples of the most basic listing options, as well as an expanded sample that enables you to provide more details and skills. You can refer to these samples and use them as guides as you create your own relevant coursework section.

Example #1: The Basics

Bachelor's in Information Technology

My College, Anytown 2022

Relevant Coursework: Cyber Security 101, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Networking and Telecom, Artificial Intelligence

This simple listing would be a good option for anyone who has at least some relevant work experience but who still needs an additional boost to meet the job requirements. In this case, the job seeker's coursework listing is presented in a minimalist format, documenting the specific courses and areas of focus—but without any other information about those studies.

Example #2: Bulletpoint List of Courses

Cyber Security 101

Business Intelligence

Application Development

Networking and Telecom

Artificial Intelligence

This option is similar to the first example but presents the classes and areas of focus as separate bullet points. This provides additional emphasis for each area of study, while also taking up a bit more space in the resume. This can be a great option if your resume is a little short and you need to expand the content.

Example #3: Detailed Format

My College, Anytown

Completed in 2022

Certified Cyber Security Expert, skilled in protecting data, information, and infrastructure.

Coursework included training on risk analysis, threat mitigation, compliance assurance, and cloud security.

Completed multiple projects and research assignments designed to test knowledge and adaptability to various types of cyber threats.

 Business Intelligence

Business analytics certificate, training focused on data interpretation and communication to resolve business problems with a data mindset.

Course included 3 projects testing analytical skills using hypothetical business challenges based on real-world business scenarios.

 Application Development

Courses focused on the development of software coding skills used for web application creation, troubleshooting, and debugging.

Final course project involved the creation of an independent web app to streamline online sales processes for a test company.

Training focused on routing, packet switching, and cybersecurity needs.

Spent eight weeks as a volunteer networking intern for a local ISP, receiving hands-on training from experienced networking professionals.

AI and machine learning studies, emphasizing tech integration into business processes, impact on sales and marketing, and ethical concerns.

Conducted study for the course final, evaluating potential AI benefits for enhanced marketing in the digital age and impact on online sales.

This more detailed example is a superior option for those who have no work experience and need their educational credentials to highlight their skills. In this sample, each area of interest is accompanied by bullet point details describing the types of courses studied and the lessons or skills developed during those classes. In addition, bullet points are added to highlight specific achievements, describe studies and real-world application of skills, and demonstrate competency in the subject matter.

This type of format can enable your coursework section to serve as a replacement for work experience if you have never been employed. When used for that purpose, you can expand on each course listing to include additional skills and keywords from the job post. Simply add new bullet points where needed to flesh out each area of emphasis.

Again, if you choose to replace your work experience section with this relevant coursework section, make sure that you move this section closer to the top of your resume so that it receives more prominence. Basically, if your strongest selling point is your education, then make sure that your important courses are one of the first things that a prospective employer sees. Also, you may want to highlight your educational qualifications in your resume summary so that the reader expects to see those coursework details.

Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume

Finally, it is important to reiterate just how vital it is that your resume makes the best possible impression. When you approach the labor market with little or no work experience, you are usually already at a competitive disadvantage. There will almost always be someone else who has a similar level of skill and educational background, as well as real-world experience. To compete against a qualified rival, you need a resume that can effectively sell you as the best candidate for the job.

For recent graduates and job seekers moving to entirely new careers, a lack of relevant work experience can be a major impediment to landing job interviews and employment offers. One way to overcome this obstacle is to learn how to use relevant educational coursework on your resume to highlight your qualifications and skills. Hopefully, this post and its resume examples can provide you with the inspiration and help you need to translate your educational experience into a compelling resume narrative. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your resume effectively positions you to have the best chance at landing any interview and job. To make sure that your resume is up to par, get a  free resume review  today. And if you really want to be sure that your resume is ready for prime time, take a few moments to discover just how easy it is to get professional resume assistance from our team of experts!

Recommended Reading:

What Should I Say About My Education On My Resume?

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

14 Reasons This is a Perfect Recent College Grad Resume Example

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How To Include Your Relevant Coursework On A Resume

In This Guide:

What is coursework, when to include coursework, when not to list coursework on resume, where to list coursework on a resume, 3 ways to list coursework on resume.

In today’s competitive job market, wielding a degree isn't the golden ticket it once was—with nearly half of college grads underemployed , the diploma alone might not cut it​. Your resume can turn into a beacon of opportunity when you smartly list relevant coursework. It’s a strategic display of your skills tailored to meet the precise needs of employers. In an era that favors skill over a title, showcasing the right courses can move you past the competition, connecting your academic efforts directly to the job's demands​. Make every line count and let your resume tell the story of a candidate ready to excel.

You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.

Conrad Hall

Coursework refers to the written or practical work students are required to complete as part of a course in a school or university. It can include a variety of tasks, such as:

• Assignments
• Examinations
• Class participation
• Presentations
• Practicals and labs
• Research projects

What is r elevant  coursework

The answer will depend on the specific job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a front-end developer, a course in UX and UI design will be very relevant.

This corresponds to the need to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Look for specific keywords in the job description  and think about how your qualifications match them.

Even if your coursework was optional or a minor component of your studies, it can still offer significant value to potential employers, provided you completed the assignments and can demonstrate the knowledge you gained.

Mentioning any significant online courses or certifications  could also be beneficial, especially in fields where ongoing education and skill development are crucial.

There are situations where it makes perfect sense to include relevant coursework on your resume:

When you’re a recent graduate

If you’re fresh out of college, it’s only natural you don’t have much practical experience yet. So, your resume should focus on the knowledge and skills you acquired during your studies, or in the form of additional projects and volunteer work.

College resume components

• Education–major and minor, relevant coursework, academic honors , high GPA
• Certifications
• Transferable skills
• Language skills
• Volunteer work

Including relevant coursework on your entry-level resume  isn't just a formality—it's a strategic move that exhibits your expertise in critical areas, making you stand out in fields where specific skills are paramount. It’s an arena for the practical and soft skills you've honed through academic projects, and fills the gap left by limited professional experience.

This approach showcases your dedication and passion for your field and ensures your resume stands out to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)  by highlighting key job-related terms. It also sets a strong foundation for interviews and allows you to effectively discuss how your educational experiences prepare you for your career. By emphasizing relevant coursework, you signal to employers your readiness to thrive in the professional world.

When you’re switching careers

Listing relevant coursework on your resume when switching careers can be a bit controversial, but it's generally beneficial if done correctly. Here’s how to include it:

• Focus on courses directly relating to your new field to demonstrate foundational knowledge.
• Mention any hands-on projects or specialized training from your courses that relate to the job.
• If your previous work experience isn’t directly related, feature your coursework more prominently, perhaps under a “Professional Development” section.
• Link your coursework with applicable skills in your resume, showcasing your readiness for the new role.
• Only list the most pertinent courses to keep your resume streamlined and focused.

Including coursework can help bridge the gap between your past experience and your new career path, showing potential employers your dedication to transitioning into the field.

While listing relevant coursework can be beneficial, especially for those new to the workforce or changing careers, there are times when it's more strategic to omit it—usually in favor of more important information, such as work experience . Here are several scenarios where you might consider leaving coursework off your resume:

• If the coursework is not relevant to the job you're applying for, it's best to leave it off. This keeps your resume focused and tailored to the position.
• If you are trying to save space on your resume , prioritize work experience and skills over listing coursework, especially if it doesn't add significant value.
• When you have more than a year of work experience, focus on your professional accomplishments  and skills rather than academic courses, unless those courses directly enhance your job application.
• If you don't have a strong grasp or sufficient expertise in the area taught by the course, despite having taken it, it’s better not to list it.
• Do not include courses if the knowledge they impart is already implied by your degree or is redundant given your other qualifications.

Here are three common approaches to including coursework on a resume, along with the pros and cons of each:

Under the education section

Placement : List relevant courses as a bullet, directly under the details of your degree in the education section.

• Keeps all educational information consolidated, making it easier for employers to see the relationship between your courses and your degree.
• Useful for students or recent graduates who want to highlight academic achievements due to limited work experience.
• May clutter the education section if you list too many courses.
• May not capture the attention of employers who prioritize practical work experience over academic coursework.

Here’s a good example:

• • Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Management

In a dedicated section

Placement : Create a separate section titled “Relevant Coursework” or “Advanced Training,” listing courses relevant to the job you're applying for.

• Highlights specific relevant courses directly, making them more noticeable to the employer.
• Allows for greater detail about what you learned in each course, linking coursework to job requirements.
• Bonus:  It’s the best option for listing coursework on an academic resume.
• Takes up valuable space that could be used for showcasing work experience or skills.
• Might be overlooked if poorly positioned on the resume or if the courses aren’t directly relevant to the job.

It could look like this:

In the cover letter

If a job requires certain qualifications that you've, until now, only gained experience with through coursework, it's wise to mention this in your cover letter . This approach allows you to openly discuss your actual level of proficiency with the relevant instruments, without it seeming unprofessional or taking up too much space on your resume.

Choosing the best option

The placement of coursework on your resume depends on your career stage and the job you're targeting . If it’s highly relevant or showcases skills you haven't used professionally, adding a dedicated section might be beneficial. For recent graduates, including detailed coursework under your education section can enhance your profile. In your cover letter, integrate coursework to highlight how specific academic experiences directly relate to the job requirements.

Make this your resume

Use Enhancv’s Resume Builder and make a resume that stands out.

Coursework resume example #1: Bulleted list

If you have several relevant entries to present, and sufficient space in your document, opt for a bulleted list. It sits well with recruiters as it lets their gaze slide along your list of competencies.

• • Relevant Coursework:
• • Ecological Modeling
• • Conservation Biology
• • Environmental Policy and Law
• • Climate Change and Human Impact

Coursework resume example #2: Detailed bulleted list

If you have enough space on your resume and want to be more precise in the specific knowledge the coursework you did gave you, opt for the detailed bulleted list. Keep in mind that recruiters might still only look at the lead-ins.

• • Ecological Modeling – Focused on the creation and application of models to predict environmental impacts and ecosystem responses.
• • Conservation Biology – Studied the preservation, protection, and restoration of natural environments and wildlife.
• • Environmental Policy and Law – Analyzed policies affecting environmental regulation and compliance; included case studies on landmark legal decisions.
• • Climate Change and Human Impact – Examined the effects of human activity on climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Coursework resume example #3: Standard list

That’s the classic option that saves space but is still easy to read: the standard list where you list your relevant coursework, separating entries with commas.

• • Relevant Coursework: Ecological Modeling, Conservation Biology, Environmental Policy and Law, Climate Change and Human Impact.

Practical tips for listing coursework

Finally, here are some extra tips to effectively present your academic pursuits:

• Select relevant courses : Only list coursework directly relevant to the job you're applying for. Avoid cluttering your resume with every course you’ve taken—focus on the most impactful ones like Machine Learning, Data Analysis, or other specialized subjects.
• Keep it brief : Limit the coursework section to 3-5 key courses to conserve space for more substantial content like significant projects  or any experience you have. Remember to update and trim this section as you gain more relevant experience.
• Use generic titles : Instead of course codes or overly specific titles, use general subject names that clearly convey the content, such as “Computer Science Fundamentals” instead of “Introduction to Computer Science.”
• Future courses : Mention planned coursework only if it’s directly relevant to the job. Indicate that these are future courses to manage expectations.
• Highlight applied skills : Instead of merely listing courses, briefly mention how the skills learned apply to the job you’re seeking. This can be integrated into a separate skills or projects section that showcases your ability to apply your academic knowledge.
• Projects over coursework : Whenever possible, prioritize describing projects and accomplishments over coursework. Projects often provide tangible proof  of your skills and adaptability.
• Early career emphasis : If you are early in your career, such as a freshman or sophomore, it's more acceptable to include relevant courses until more substantial experiences or projects can replace them.

FAQs about coursework on resume

Should i put future coursework on a resume.

Including future coursework can be a good idea, especially if it's directly relevant to the job you are applying for. Indicate that the coursework is “In Progress”, or note the anticipated completion dates. This shows your commitment to furthering your education and acquiring new skills.

Is it OK to put no experience on a resume?

It's OK to have a resume with no professional experience . Emphasize academic achievements, volunteer work, internships, and relevant skills developed through coursework and extracurricular activities. Describe any roles or projects that prove your abilities and enthusiasm for the field.

Should I include a job I’ve only just started on my resume?

Adding a recently started job can be advantageous as it shows current employment and a proactive attitude. List it by stating the start date and “present” to indicate that you are still employed in this role. Briefly mention your responsibilities and any accomplishments, even if they are preliminary.

How do I list incomplete education on my resume?

For incomplete education , list the school and the degree you were pursuing, followed by the dates you attended. Use a phrase like “Courses completed towards [degree]” to indicate your progress. If you plan to finish the degree, note this by including “Expected to resume studies” or “ Expected completion by [date] .”

How do I add a training course to my resume?

Add any relevant training courses in a separate section titled “Training & Certifications.” Include the name of the course, the institution or organization providing it, and the completion date or expected completion date if you're currently enrolled. Highlight any specific skills or knowledge acquired that relate to the job you’re applying for.

Listing relevant coursework on a resume is essential for those at the beginning of their careers. It provides potential employers with insight into your skills and knowledge, helping to demonstrate your capability to handle required tasks, even if you lack direct experience. Remember, your inexperience isn’t a setback–it's an opportunity to grow and adapt. Embrace this phase with confidence and show future employers that you’re prepared to take on challenges, and also eager to learn and contribute.

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How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume

List Only Relevant Coursework that Matches the Job Description

You don’t need to use the official name of the course, feature academic projects to further highlight your coursework, include academic awards and your gpa, how to align your coursework with the job description.

Listing relevant coursework from your bachelor’s degree program on your resume can be advantageous for entry-level job seekers starting out within their industry. There are two ways to accomplish this. Including the coursework as bullet points within your education section is one approach. The other option is to create a whole new section that allows you to list your coursework separately and provide more insights into what you learned during your program. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide you with examples to help you showcase your coursework and land your first entry-level position.

Ideally, you should only list coursework relevant to the position you are applying for on your resume. For instance, if you’re seeking an accounting position, it wouldn’t make much sense to include an elective you completed in continental philosophy. As your job search begins, carefully analyze each posting before incorporating your coursework.

The more relevant details you’re able to incorporate into your resume, the more likely you’ll be to generate interviews during your search. Coursework can be beneficial for entry-level professionals, as it can sometimes be challenging to fill out your document with strong qualifications due to a lack of work history. Below, we’ll review an example of a job seeker looking for a mental health counseling role:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York, NY September 2017 – May 2021

Coursework:

• Expressive Art Therapy
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Group & Family Counseling

Notice how in this first example, the job seeker is including both psychology and art courses in their education section. This might seem like a poor choice on the job seeker’s part, but in this situation, they’re actually demonstrating why they’re uniquely qualified for the position. Art therapy is a unique field within the mental health counseling space that utilizes a range of modalities and therapeutic approaches to help patients overcome trauma and cognitive disabilities. Showcasing their understanding of both art and psychology will show organizations that they have a dynamic skill set that can help them succeed within this niche clinical environment.

It’s important to understand that the names of courses vary significantly from university to university. If the official name of the course fails to convey what you were learning, you may want to use a relevant keyword as the course title instead. For instance, instead of “Intro Accounting 101”, you may want to use a title such as “Financial Accounting” instead. This will also help you to maintain compliance with Applicant Tracking System (ATS) requirements, as you can rename your courses to mirror high-impact keywords on the job description.

• Introduction to Developing Software 101
• Intro to Programming 102
• Advanced Computer Science 103
• Coding in the Modern Tech Landscape 103
• App Dev Capstone Course 104

Software Development Coursework

• Software Development Intro Course: Completed coursework on the fundamentals of software development, including the SDLC, application development, and JavaScript
• Python and JavaScript Programming: Completed a course on the use of Python and JavaScript for a variety of web development and software development projects
• Application Development Capstone : Completed a capstone course to build a functional mobile application in Python that enabled students to compare and contrast cost savings on used books and rentals versus new book prices

Notice how in the first example, the job seeker is using the exact names of the courses. Although “Coding in the Modern Tech Landscape” sounds like a good title, it doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about what the student was learning during the course. In the second example, the candidate has changed the titles of the courses to better reflect the subject matter. They also provide fewer courses, and instead highlight more relevant details that match the position they’re applying for. This is a much more effective strategy for making a positive impression on the hiring manager and will greatly increase your chances of landing the interview.

If you’re going to list coursework on your resume, you should strongly consider building an academic projects section to provide deeper insights into your education experience and qualifications. It’s one thing to mention a Python class on your resume, but it’s another to showcase a project where you utilized this programming language to build a mobile application. Resumes with unique and compelling details are much more likely to grab the hiring manager’s attention, especially when applying for entry-level positions where the documents run the risk of appearing vague and generic. Below, you’ll find two examples to help you feature academic projects on your resume:

Academic Experience

Economics Projects, University of Syracuse, New York, NY September 2020 – May 2022

• Performed statistical analysis of financial trends within the housing market to create a predictive algorithm analyzing potential shifts based on a variety of economic factors, including foreclosures, housing market data, and projected household incomes
• Evaluated the risk and long-term ROI potential of a hypothetical start-up company by conducting a detailed analysis of the product use case, competitors, and market growth data

Web Development Projects, University of Michigan, Detroit, MI September 2020 – May 2022

• Designed and developed a web page featuring blogs, resources, and testimonials within the mobile gaming industry, including a platform for users to share insights
• Developed a mobile application to aid students in comparing and contrasting costs of used books and rentals across online stores and vendors, which included designing a feature to showcase cost savings of used books vs. new books in the university store

Another way to further enhance the impact of your coursework is by providing academic awards and recognitions on your resume. This will show hiring managers that you completed your coursework and excelled academically within your program. If your GPA is 3.6 or higher, you can also feel free to include it in your education section. If the number is lower, it may be better to omit it, as it won’t significantly impact your job application.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), English TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA, September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.87/4.0

• President, Hyphen Literary Magazine, 2020-2021
• Recipient of the Temple English Award, 2021
• Dean’s List 2017-2021
• Magna Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Science UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO, CA September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.7/4.0

• President of the University Robotics Club, 2017-2021
• Dean’s List, 2018-2021
• Summa Cum Laude

The most important aspect of the resume-building process is tailoring your document toward individual job descriptions. Breaking into your target industry following graduation can often be challenging for entry-level job seekers. Other candidates may have hands-on experience that you lack, and to make a case for your candidacy, you’ll need to show hiring managers that you have the ideal qualifications to succeed in the role.

As you build out your resume, you should start by determining how your skill sets and education experience match the needs of the organization you’re applying to. Remember that it’s okay to alter the name of a course to convey key skill sets more clearly for the hiring manager, provided it’s an accurate representation of what you learned during the course. For instance, if a company is seeking a candidate who excels in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), it’s acceptable to feature this as a course instead of using a broad and vague title provided by the university.

By tailoring your coursework toward the job description, you’ll maximize your chances of generating interviews over the course of your job hunt.

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How to list relevant coursework on your resume

Coursework Resume Example 1: Bullet Points

Coursework resume example 2: bullet points and definitions , coursework resume example 3: standard list , coursework resume example 4: mix and match , coursework resume example for a specialized degree program, project-based coursework resume example, 1. make sure the coursework is relevant , 2. keep things brief, clear, and simple , 3. proofread and edit your education section , 4. use specific keywords, if possible , 5. quantify your achievements .

By showcasing your most impressive projects and coursework for recruiters to see, you can give yourself the extra edge that might just land you the interview.

Fresh-faced and eager to learn? If you’re a recent graduate or current student with little work experience, the education section of your resume has to shine. Never fear. You can make up for what you lack in hands-on experience by focusing on the lessons you learned at college. 

Showcasing your coursework front and center is one way to go. While including relevant courses and projects on your resume is optional, it’s well worth considering. So long as the coursework is relevant to the job at hand, highlighting it on your resume is a savvy move. 

Perfecting the art of resume creation takes time. Should you want your college coursework to steal the limelight, you need to know how to format it. Here at Resume.io , we’ve got you covered. Within this quick blog, we will take a look at the following topics: 

What counts as relevant coursework on your resume?

• What additional achievements, if any, should you include on your resume?
• How to include relevant coursework on your resume
• Tips for writing an effective resume whatever your experience.

Before you sit down at your computer and get to work, you need to know one thing: What counts as relevant coursework on your resume? The answer depends on the job you’re applying for. So, before you go into too much detail, question the value of the course.

Back when you studied for your degree or diploma, you likely completed a range of projects and coursework. Some of these will apply to the jobs you’re applying for, while others will not. Knowing the difference is key. 

Let’s look at an example to illustrate this point. Say you are applying for a position as an accountant . For this type of position, your coursework in using Microsoft Excel is 100% relevant. You should put it on your resume. However, if you took an additional French language course, it’s unlikely to matter to the employer. Leave it off.

Put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Before you include any coursework on your resume, ask yourself what it tells the hiring manager about you. How does this coursework relate to the role? What skills did it teach you that you will use when on the job? If you can’t answer these two questions, you might not want to include it at all. 

Aside from any relevant coursework, you may want to include projects, awards , or training that you completed while studying. Don’t hold back here. Remember you are up against hundreds of other candidates, and so you need to elevate your application.

How to include relevant coursework on your resume + examples

Do you have some relevant coursework that will knock recruiters’ socks off? You can include these details in your education section beneath the corresponding degree or diploma. However, there are different ways that you can lay this out. If you’re not sure where to start, here are four options that may work well. 

First up, you can bullet-point the coursework you completed under the diploma title. Recruiters spend a matter of seconds reviewing each new application that lands on their desk. For that reason, keep it short and snappy with this format to grab their attention. 

Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Media

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 

Sept 2008 - Jun 2011

• Graphic Design (Adobe InDesign and Photoshop)
• Copywriting and Editing
• History of Advertising

Everyone looks for jobs with no job experience so don't worry! There are several ways to show what you are capable of!

Want to add more weight to your argument? You can use the bullet point and definitions approach. That is what it sounds like. You bullet-point the coursework and add a definition of what you learned. Stick to no more than one sentence to save some space.  

• Graphic Design – Intro to basic-level design using Adobe software including InDesign and Photoshop.
• Copywriting and Editing – Studied the theory behind creating effective advertising copy and the principles of editing.
• History of Advertising — Research into the history of advertising dating back to the early 1900s up to the modern-day.
• Media Law — Examination in the fundamentals of media and copyright law.

Resume real estate is valuable. If you don’t have much white space on this document, you may not be able to bullet-point your relevant coursework. Luckily, there is another option. You can list your achievements beneath your diploma, using a comma to separate them. 

Relevant Courses: 

Graphic Design (Adobe InDesign and Photoshop), Copywriting and Editing, Script Writing, Administration, History of Advertising, Photography, and Media Law.

“Cum laude” seems like a worthwhile resume detail to impress hiring managers, but how exactly should it be listed on your resume? And is it always a good idea to include Latin honors? Resume.io is here with practical advice in plain English.

Did you complete an exam in a subject relevant to the job? Don’t forget to include it on your resume. You can use a mix and match approach to get this right. That means listing your relevant coursework using commas and adding your exams below that. 

Graphic Design (Adobe InDesign and Photoshop), Copywriting and Editing, Script Writing, Administration, History of Advertising, and Photography.

Examinations: 

How to include relevant coursework on your student resume

A student resume is something of a different beast. You may have internship experience , or have worked after school or during the summer, but your true value is in the knowledge you are gaining right now and your enthusiasm for the subject. 

Your education section should be front-and-center, so choose a hybrid or alternate format that gives you space to expand on your studies and projects. If you are applying for an internship, your biggest selling point is your coursework, but, just as when you are a recent graduate, only your relevant coursework.

Perhaps you are in a specialized program or have an unusual major and minor combination. You may consider describing this degree and then listing the major classes it comprises.

Double-major in sociology and mechanical engineering: Bachelor’s program designed to ensure an understanding of how sociology influences what products and services become popular and how to design with demand in mind. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 

Expected graduation date: May 2024

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Sociology of Consumption, Economy and Society, Law and Society, Product Engineering Process, Product Development and Systems Engineering

Engineering includes a lot of hands-on learning. Relevant projects will show that you already have a basic understanding of how to complete the work necessary for your career. You may choose to list one or more project related to the internship or job you are applying for.

Junior product design project:

• Conceived of and designed quick-release water bottle holder for mountain bikes. Developed manufacturing process, chose materials, aesthetics and sizes with safety of bike riders in mind.
• Advanced calculus
• Design thinking
• Product engineering and execution
• Production management essentials

Penn State, State College, PA: Expected graduation date, May 2025 with Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tips to use when listing coursework on your resume

Before you include the coursework or project on your resume, ask yourself one simple question: Is it relevant to the job? Consider what value this information adds to your application. What story is it telling a potential employer and why does it matter?

It goes without saying that you should tailor your resume to each job you apply for. The projects or coursework you completed during your bachelor’s degree are likely to be varied. You can’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. To give yourself the best chance of success, you should pick and choose when to include certain projects on your resume. 

Chances are, you learned a myriad of skills when completing your coursework. However, when you’re listing it on your resume, it pays to keep things brief. Recruiters don’t have all the time in the world to review your application. The whole thing is over in seconds. With that in mind, you need to keep your coursework or project descriptions short and sweet. 

While you may be tempted to outline every aspect of your coursework on your resume, that won’t do you any favors. To pique the recruiter’s interest, only highlight the parts that are relevant to the job. Why not start with the full explanation and then edit it down?

No hiring manager will be impressed by a candidate who tells them what they do for a job. Your future boss is perfectly aware of the responsibilities of the role in question.  Instead, they are interested in what a candidate has accomplished and how it made a difference for their previous employers. Past performance is an indicator of future success.

Adding some coursework or a relevant project to your education section? There’s one thing you don’t want to forget. Proofreading your resume whenever you include new information on it is essential. We all make avoidable mistakes now and then. 

Aside from looking out for spelling and grammatical errors, check the formatting of your resume. When you are adding something new to this document, you need to ensure that it suits the existing style and flow. Make sure you use the same font and layout.  

Most now use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) . The software sifts through resumes, filtering them by keywords. Put simply, if your resume doesn’t include certain words or phrases, it may end up in the ‘junk’ pile before a recruiter sees it. 

To combat this problem, use specific keywords when listing your relevant coursework. Take a close look at the job ad and note down any job-related words it includes. Using these words within your coursework descriptions could make a major difference. 

Recruiters want to see proof of your achievements. Whether you have an impressive GPA or excelled in an exam, share that information on your resume. If you are using the bullet point and description approach, you can include the details in your sentence. 

Work and study now, graduate later. If that’s your timeline and you’re looking for a job, don’t let this common sticking point stand in your way: How do I put my expected graduation date on a resume? It’s really quite easy. Here are some tips and examples.

Key takeaways

• Including relevant coursework on your resume will strengthen your application. This approach is particularly useful for candidates with little work experience .
• Don’t waste space. Before you feature any courses or projects on your resume, make sure they add value to your application.
• When including relevant coursework on your resume, there are many ways you can go. Consider which option best suits your needs.
• Don’t add too much detail. You can use a sentence to describe what you learned in each case — but no more than that.
• Quickly add a separate coursework section to your resume inside our intuitive online resume builder .

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How (and When) To List Relevant Coursework on a Resume

Everything you need to know about listing relevant coursework on your resume, including where it belongs, what to include, and when to take it off.

a year ago   •   5 min read

You’re fresh out of school, armed with years’ worth of knowledge and the most up-to-date skills. But should you include specifics about your coursework on your resume?

If you graduated recently , are changing careers , or simply lack a lot of relevant work experience in the field you’re aiming for, the answer is probably yes. Keep reading as we cover exactly how to do that, including real examples and tips on where it belongs and how to match it to the job you want.

Let’s start with a brief rundown of when relevant coursework belongs on your resume — and when it doesn’t.

When (and when not) to include relevant coursework on your resume

Relevant coursework doesn’t belong on every resume. For most job seekers, it’s completely optional (and probably unnecessary if you have any actual work experience in a similar role or industry).

You can consider using coursework to highlight relevant skills and industry knowledge, especially if:

• You graduated recently (or are about to). As a recent graduate, your most relevant “experience” is likely to be your education, so it’s okay to focus on that.
• You’re changing careers. This is doubly true if you went back to school or completed a short course to retrain.
• You have limited experience and/or are applying for entry-level positions . Without a lot of experience in the field, it makes sense to focus on what you do have — things like relevant coursework, community involvement, or extracurricular activities .

Decided that listing relevant coursework on your resume is the right step for you? Here’s how to do it.

How to include relevant coursework on a resume

• Create an Education section on your resume. For recent graduates, this can go at the top of your resume, above your Work Experience section .
• List the name of the school, the degree you studied, and your graduation date (optional).
• Underneath, create a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.”
• List a small number of courses (no more than 3-4) that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. That’s enough if you want to keep your education section brief, but if you choose to expand it, you can also:
• Include a single bullet point for each course that highlights a key accomplishment. Start each bullet point with an action verb so it more closely resembles your other resume bullets.
• Focus on how the course prepared you for the kind of job you aim to be doing — for example, if you’re applying for roles in marketing, focus on things like conducting market research surveys or implementing social media campaigns.
• Use our free resume scanner for more tips on how to perfect your resume bullet points and Education section.

Examples of listing relevant coursework on a resume

Here are some examples of including relevant coursework in a few common areas of study. Feel free to copy and paste or customize these to fit your own experience.

Finance coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance XYZ University, Graduated May 2022 Relevant Coursework : Corporate Finance : Analyzed financial statements and conducted valuation analysis to assess the financial health of a company. Investment Analysis : Evaluated investment opportunities and presented recommendations to a panel of industry professionals. Financial Modeling: Created complex financial models to forecast revenue and expense projections.

Marketing coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Marketing ABC College, Graduated June 2021 Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing: Created and implemented a social media campaign for a local business, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic. Market Research : Conducted focus groups and surveys to gather insights on consumer preferences and behavior. Brand Management: Developed a brand identity and positioning strategy for a new product line.

Technology coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Computer Science DEF University, Graduated December 2021 Relevant Coursework: Database Systems : Designed and implemented a database management system for a student organization to track membership and event attendance. Web Development: Built a responsive website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a local business, resulting in a 50% increase in online sales. Operating Systems: Worked on a team to develop a custom operating system using C++, implementing process scheduling and memory management algorithms.

How to determine which coursework to include

The number one rule of writing a resume is that everything on it needs to be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for — even your education. Anything that isn’t relevant should be a) kept as brief as possible or b) left off altogether.

That means you should only list coursework that more or less matches the kinds of tasks you’ll be doing in your new job. Sometimes this is obvious — for example, if the job ad asks for experience with specific tools, software or programming languages, it makes sense to include any coursework you completed on those topics

Here’s an example:

Job Description: "Experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++." Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Python, Object-Oriented Programming (Java), Data Structures and Algorithms (C++)

Other times, you’ll need to read between the lines a little — which can help demonstrate that you understand the basic requirements of the job. For example:

Job Description: "Experience with digital marketing tools and analytics software." Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Web Analytics

Here’s another example:

Job Description: "Strong knowledge of financial accounting principles." Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance

I’d recommend using the tool below to get a list of skills and keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Where to put relevant coursework on a resume

There are a few places where it makes sense to list relevant coursework on your resume. This could be in your:

• Education section. This is the most obvious place to list coursework, so it should always go here first.
• Skills section. If your coursework involved a specific hard skill, you can also list it in your skills section — for example, listing an “Adobe Photoshop Fundamentals” course under a subheading like “Software” or “Graphic Design.”
• Certifications or Licenses section. If you completed a course that led to a specific certification — especially if it’s one that’s well known or highly regarded in your industry — you can highlight that by listing the course separately in a dedicated section.

Listing relevant coursework on your resume is optional. It’s generally a good fit for recent graduates and career changers, but not for more experienced job seekers.

• Alongside relevant coursework, you may also want to highlight educational accomplishments like GPA, honors , awards, study abroad , educational projects , and extracurricular activities. Check out our complete guide on how to list education on your resume for more tips and examples.
• Make sure you’re tailoring your resume for each position you apply to and reviewing it regularly to remove sections (like relevant coursework) that no longer belong.
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How To Include Relevant Coursework On A Student Resume

• General Resume Examples
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If you are a student who is looking for and applying to jobs, you may not have enough work experience to fill up your resume. If you look online at resume templates or examples, most will have sections for work experience, skills, and education.

Adding a relevant coursework sections gives a potential employer a decent understanding of the skills you’re developing and if you’d make a good fit for the position they’re advertising.

However, including your coursework on your resume should be handled delicately. Below, we discuss how to include coursework on your resume as a student or recent graduate.

Key Takeaways:

Including relevant coursework on your resume can increase your chances of landing a job or internship , especially when you lack formal work experience.

As a student or recent graduate, most of your impressive accomplishments happened during your time in school through clubs, activities, and your coursework.

When including your relevant coursework you should put it in a single-column format, multi-column format, or detailed format.

Relevant coursework should be put under the education section of your resume.

What Is Relevant Coursework on a Resume and Where to Put It

How to include your coursework on a resume, example of coursework focused resume, when to include and not include relevant coursework on your resume, tips for including relevant coursework on your resume.

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Relevant coursework includes any classes, projects, or academic experiences that relate to the job you’re applying for. You can include relevant course in the education section of your resume as a way of making up for your lack of formal work experience.

Not all of your college classes are particularly relevant for many entry-level positions . For example, someone applying for an accounting role shouldn’t bother including their philosophy class.

Relevant coursework should usually follow the basic information about the school (university name, anticipated graduation date , major) and any other optional academic topics you feel will improve your candidacy (Dean’s List, awards, honors, etc.)

Relevant coursework beneath the education heading . Remember, highlight only the information that is relevant to the position you’re applying for. In some cases, especially when you highlight relevant skills or abilities, your information might make sense in a different place on your resume.

It’s important to remember that all resumes will look different based on your experience level and what kind of job you’re applying for. Be sure to tailor your resume in a way that’s right for you and your future career goals.

Depending on the amount of coursework you have, you’ll have a few different ways to include this coursework on your resume. This can include a column format or a detailed format.

Depending on the amount of information already on your resume and how relevant the details of your coursework are for the position, you’ll need to alter how you list this information. Unless you have a very bare resume, it’s a good idea to consider the single-column format or the multi-column format.

Below are the different ways to include relevant coursework on your resume:

Single-column format. The single-column format displays your relevant coursework in a list form with bullet points. Here, you’ll list the relevant class title you’re looking to highlight and no additional information.

Multi-column format. If you have multiple skills you’re looking to highlight that fit into different categories, you can consider the multi-column format. Each column should have a different header (such as; Marketing or English) with the relevant courses listed beneath.

Detailed format. The detailed format is more in-depth than just using the title of the course. It provides more specifics on the skills you may have learned in each specific course. This format will look more like the format you’re used to seeing under the work experience section of a resume .

In this format, you’ll give the course, school, dates, and a few bullet points beneath that help to highlight the learnings you’ve gleaned from your time in this course. If you decide to use this kind of format, take extra care to only include skills that are relevant to the job at hand.

As you work through what coursework to include and how to format it appropriately, you’ll also need to decide on the appropriate place to put it. If it’s a supplement to the rest of your resume, you can consider adding it at the end.

However, if it’s the most impressive part of your resume, you can consider placing it more towards the top so that the employer sees it at first glance. In certain circumstances, it’s appropriate for your relevant coursework to replace the work experience section.

So how exactly should this look on your resume? As mentioned above, it will differ depending on the individual, the amount of existing information on your resume, and the relevant coursework you’re able to share. Below are a few examples of ways to include your relevant coursework on your resume.

Single-column format:

Master of Science in Learning Technologies Pennsylvania State University Completion: 2014 Related Classwork: Cloud Computing in the Digital Age Integrating Social Media in Online Learning Environments Learning Technologies Foundations and Applications

Multi-column format:

Bachelor’s in Information Technology Saint Joseph’s University Completion: 2015 Related Coursework: Information Technology Application Development: Developed coding skills for web development. Networking and Telecommunications: Studied transmission media, packet switching and routing, and cybersecurity. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Researched the relationship between AI and machine learning, its impact on business processes, and sales and marketing teams. Artificial Intelligence Implications for Business Strategy: Gained knowledge to support AI integrations into existing organizations to make strategic business decisions.

Detailed Format:

Bachelor’s in Marketing Rowan University Completion: 2017 Related Coursework: Business to Business Marketing Deep comprehension B2B marketing tactics, including digital campaigning, paid advertising, public relations , and content creation. Studied the relationships and nuances between businesses and how receptiveness to marketing is altered in comparison to B2C. Public Relations Fostered relationships with editors, create pitch emails and articles, and how to best process a press release over the wire. Execute a public relations campaign from editorial relationships, press releases, by-line articles, and event promotion. Principles of Marketing Practiced the fundamentals of marketing, including data analysis, copywriting, buyer personas, and more. Developed and execute a full marketing plan.

Relevant coursework refers to the list of subjects and classes you have taken or are currently taken at a school that is related to the job you’re applying for. So, when should you include this type of information on a resume?

When to include relevant course work:

The following situations are appropriate instances to include relevant coursework on your resume:

You are a recent graduate or will be graduating soon. When you’re getting ready to enter the workforce or are preparing a resume for graduate school, including relevant coursework is a must.

You lack professional experience. If you’re writing a resume without work experience or related work experience, putting in related coursework will help your credibility and opportunity to snag the job.

You want to change careers, and your coursework is relevant. A career change is a big move for any professional, and depending on where you’re moving, you may have minimal experience or skills from your work experience to highlight. In this case, it’s relevant to mention your coursework.

When not to include relevant coursework:

If you’re uncertain about when to include or exclude coursework on your resume, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind. The following instances may be applicable when considering leaving your coursework off your resume:

Your resume is already a page long . If you have enough work experience, skills, and education to fill up an entire page of your resume, it’s probably best to leave coursework off, even if it is relevant

The coursework is outdated. If it’s been some time since you have been in school and the coursework is outdated, it might be best to leave the specifics off your resume.

Your coursework is not relevant to the position. Of course, if the coursework isn’t immediately relevant to the job you’re applying for, it’s better to leave it off . If it comes up as an opportunity during your interview, feel free to bring it up there.

Tailor your resume for the job . Regardless of where you are in your career, this is the golden rule of resume-writing. The definition of “relevant” changes depending on what the job description looks like.

Give more educational details. If you’re opting to include coursework, you should also include brief mentions of other educational achievements.

Be explicit about skills. Your resume will also have a skills section that’s ripe for hitting keywords that applicant tracking systems (ATS) love to see. But an advantage of including relevant coursework is that you can also include even more skills.

Edit continually. Everyone should update their resume often, but nobody should do it more often than students and recent graduates. As a freshman, it’s fine to include some basic courses, but each year brings more difficult (and therefore more impressive courses) that should take precedence over your earlier studies.

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Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How to Make Relevant Coursework on a Resume Look Good (Examples and Free Templates)

Including relevant coursework on your resume can demonstrate subject-matter knowledge, transferable skills, and qualifications for a role, particularly for students, recent graduates, or those with little to no experience.

Relevant coursework on a resume shows that: 

• You have subject-matter knowledge
• You have a transferable skill set to offer

And this helps with showing that you’re qualified for the role. 

Now, putting coursework on a resume isn’t just for students and graduates. It’s applicable to those with experience and even managers as long as it’s directly linked to the job responsibilities. 

Having a lack of experience shouldn’t stop you from applying. In this guide, you’ll learn when and when not to include coursework and how to list it on your resume.

When to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume 

Here are 5 times when you should consider including relevant coursework on your resume. For the most part though, this is effective for student resumes .

You Have Little to No Experience

Having no professional experience means employers will turn to other areas to get insight into your technical skills and knowledge. Some of these other areas include:

• Academic achievements
• Relevant courses
• Communication skills

Therefore, use your coursework to demonstrate that you’re still qualified for the role.

You’re Applying for Internship or Entry-Level Jobs

College students and recent graduates alike will benefit from including relevant coursework to showcase subject-matter expertise. This is especially useful for internship resume applications .

Similar to those making a career change with little to no experience in the field, employers and applicant tracking systems will refer to academic experience. In other words, they’ll look at your resume for the following:

• Qualifications

Transferable Hard Skills and Knowledge

The job posting might mention a few online courses, skills, and knowledge that’s required or desirable. And if this is the case, then it can be worth including certain coursework because it’s part of what makes the company's ideal candidate.

A common example of this is having a degree that’s not directly related to the entry-level job you’re applying for. But, one of the courses or modules you studied was directly related to the role. So in this instance, it would be worth mentioning those modules and courses on your resume. 

It Involves Real-World Experience

Let’s look at some marketing courses as an example. 

To be acknowledged as someone that’s completed the course, one of the requirements could be to develop and implement a digital marketing strategy for a real business. 

Now, this coursework would be valuable to put on a resume . Not only does it show that you’re knowledgeable about marketing as a subject. But it also demonstrates workforce experience since you’re using what you know in the real world and not just writing it down on a school paper. 

Advanced Coursework From a Reputable Organization

Including specialized coursework highlights your knowledge. And because the course was from a reputable organization, it’ll look good for both your resume and your overall academic background. 

Not all other candidates may have managed to secure the opportunity to study with that same institution. So, mentioning this on your resume will help you stand out. 

When Not to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume

Here are 3 times when you should reconsider including relevant coursework on your resume.

You Have More Than 2 Years of Work Experience

Above all resume sections, your work experience matters the most.

Coursework isn’t necessary when you already have several years of experience. Your professional experience is usually more important than coursework because practicality is more useful than theory. 

But when you have extra space, then you could consider mentioning relevant courses. If not and space is limited, prioritize your work experience instead of coursework. 

The Coursework Is Outdated

You’re better off leaving your coursework out of your resume when it’s outdated because it may no longer be relevant in today’s landscape. 

However, similar to the resume education section , you could still include it but by removing details related to the dates – this is assuming that it meets one of the 5 points mentioned earlier. 

No Transferable Skills

When there are no transferable skills, it clutters your application instead of adding value. In other words, it's pretty much irrelevant and unnecessary when there are no transferable skills that have been developed. 

Even so, an alternative if you'd still like to mention your coursework is to frame it as an achievement. Omit the bullet points and only include the following details:

• Course title
• Course summary

How to List Relevant Coursework and Make Them Look Good

We’ll show you step-by-step how to create a separate resume section for your coursework and how to list them correctly. Afterwards, we'll show you other sections on a resume where you can list your courses.

1. Use an Optimized Resume Format

A well-formatted resume section will get your reader’s attention. It also makes it easier for the reader to find key information quickly. 

Here’s what makes a good resume section format:

• All caps text
• Professional resume font

Unless you’re using a resume platform like Rezi , you'll likely have to optimize for each of these manually. 

2. Enter the Resume Section Header

The header of your coursework section could either be “coursework” or “relevant coursework.” Make this nice and clear and easy to read for the hiring manager. Use bold text for the headers and lining to make the resume section stand out. 

3. Enter the Subheaders 

The subheaders include the following details:

• Course name
• Date of completion 
• Course skills/objective (optional)

Here’s an example of how this looks when building a resume with Rezi (but forget about the last field for now because that’s not going to be a subheader, which is what we’ll be going over in the next step).

4. Describe the Skills That You Applied 

As shown above from the Rezi dashboard, the last field requires you to describe the skills that you applied. Use bullet points to showcase your abilities and responsibilities. The skills mentioned should be relevant to the job description and each bullet point should be outcome-focused. 

On that note, see below for the best practices on how to write about your coursework and make them look good.

Start Each Bullet Point With an Action Verb 

Begin your sentences using an action verb to get straight to the point. This is effective because it engages the reader by immediately bringing them into the action. However, be specific and creative – and avoid the overused words. 

Aside from grabbing your hiring manager’s attention, it conveys initiative as well as accountability. It also emphasizes the impact that you've made.

Highlight Achievements and Results

Make your sentences outcome-focused. This is a more compelling way to show that you’re a results-driven person as opposed to just saying you’re all about the results. 

That said, here’s a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be specific: mention exactly what you worked on and what skills, knowledge, or frameworks you had to apply.
• Quantify the results: use numbers if possible when writing about achievements and responsibilities.  
• Use the active voice: put emphasis on the actions you took and the difference that your efforts made.
• Be concise: keep each bullet point brief and ensure it’s only 1-2 lines long.

Use Resume Keywords 

Refer to the job ad. See what type of words related to job skills and knowledge keeps on being brought up.

Tailor your bullet points based on the job description. For instance, focus your descriptions of an assignment on a particular skill or ability that the hiring manager would expect from the ideal candidate. 

Other Sections to Put Relevant Coursework on a Resume 

There are 3 places where you can mention coursework on a resume:

• Education section
• Additional resume section
• Individual resume section

How you write about your coursework depends on which resume section you’re mentioning it in. 

Coursework in Resume Education Section 

Aside from including your degree in the education section, you can include what you minored in. You may also mention a relevant coursework piece. This can either be listed as a bullet point or as a subheader next to the main qualification listed. 

Whether you want to add the title of your coursework or what you minored in, this information is secondary. The primary information in the education section is the main academic qualification. 

Here’s an example below.

Coursework in Additional Resume Section

The additional resume section could be one of the following:

• Extracurricular activities
• Involvement

You write about your coursework depending on the nature of the additional resume section. 

If it’s similar to the education section where you’re listing qualifications or awards, include the title of the coursework you completed as a subheader after listing the main achievement. Or, bring it up as a bullet point underneath.

But if it’s similar to the work experience section where you want to include details about your responsibilities, list the title of the coursework as the main subheader. Then, add bullet points underneath describing what you learned. 

Coursework in Individual Resume Section 

Use a separate resume section dedicated to relevant coursework as shown in our step-by-step guide earlier.

5 Mistakes Job Seekers Make When Listing Coursework on a Resume

Here are 5 common mistakes to avoid: 

• The coursework listed isn’t relevant to the job position
• The coursework description shows no application of skills and knowledge
• Overloading your resume with coursework. (If you want to focus on quantity, then forget about the bullet points and just fill in the subheaders.)
• Listing coursework without a concise summary of what it’s about. 
• Prioritizing coursework over work experience. 

4 Resume Examples With a Good Coursework Section 

Feel free to also check out our library of 300+ free resume templates here . 

First Year Student Resume

Data Science Intern Resume

Portfolio Manager Resume

Student Technical Assistant Resume

Generate a Powerful Coursework Resume Section in Less Than 60 Seconds

Firstly, you need a Rezi account – sign up here to get started for free . 

Next, all you need to do is simply fill in the following fields:

• Enter the coursework title. 
• Include the organization/institution name where you completed the coursework.
• Mention the dates.
• Include the location. 
• Press “Generate Bullet”. 

• Either press “AI writer generate” to rewrite the bullet point or if you’re happy with it, use the suggestion for your coursework resume section. 

Use Coursework to Prove You’re Qualified 

Work experience and skills are important for hiring managers… but so is your academic background.  

Include only relevant coursework on a resume. Not the irrelevant modules. Then, either use it to do one of the following:

• Frame your coursework as an accomplishment
• Use your coursework to showcase your skills and knowledge by describing what you’ve learned

And if you’re struggling to write your resume in general, try using Rezi’s AI resume builder . You’re guided step-by-step and you can rely on our AI writer to give you a hand!

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

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• Career Blog

Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 2024

Your resume is often the first impression that an employer will have of you as a job candidate. It serves as a marketing tool to showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications. However, have you ever considered including your relevant coursework on your resume? In this article, we will explore why listing relevant coursework on your resume is important and how it can enhance your chances of getting hired.

The Purpose of a Resume

A resume is a document that outlines your professional experience, education, and skills. Its main purpose is to market you as a potential candidate for a job that you are applying for. The goal of a resume is to grab the attention of the employer and convince them that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to perform the job duties.

Why Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume is Important

Listing relevant coursework on your resume is important because it showcases your academic achievements and expertise in a particular field. Including relevant coursework on your resume can help you stand out from other candidates who may not have the same level of education or specialized knowledge.

Furthermore, if you are a recent graduate or have little work experience in your desired field, highlighting relevant coursework on your resume can demonstrate to employers that you have a solid foundation and understanding of the subject matter. It can also show that you have taken the initiative to learn and specialize in your field of interest.

Listing relevant coursework on your resume can enhance your overall candidacy and give you a competitive edge in the job market. In the next section of this article, we will discuss how to effectively incorporate relevant coursework into your resume.

Identifying Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing coursework on your resume, it’s important to identify what is relevant to the job you’re applying for. This means recognizing the keywords and skills that employers are searching for and tailoring your coursework accordingly.

How to determine what coursework is relevant for your resume

First and foremost, look at the job description and identify the required or preferred qualifications. This will give you an idea of what the employer is looking for and what coursework you should focus on.

Next, consider the industry and position you’re applying for. Certain industries may place more importance on specific coursework. For example, a computer science degree would be more relevant for a software developer job than it would be for a marketing position.

Additionally, think about the skills and knowledge that are necessary for the job. If you have taken coursework that directly relates to these skills or pertains to the industry, then that coursework would be considered relevant.

Identifying the key keywords and skills employers are searching for

To effectively identify the relevant coursework to list on your resume, it’s crucial to understand the keywords and skills that employers are looking for. This requires some research and analysis of the job posting and industry trends.

Start by reviewing the job description for keywords and phrases that are repeated throughout the post. For example, the terms “analytical skills”, “project management”, or “communication skills” may be used frequently in a job posting. These are the skills that employers are looking for, and you should tailor your coursework to reflect these skills.

Another strategy is to research trends and skills pertaining to the industry or profession. Check out industry websites, blogs, or social media pages to keep up with the latest trends and skills. This information can help you identify relevant coursework and skills to include on your resume.

Identifying relevant coursework for your resume requires a combination of understanding the job requirements, the industry, and the specific skills employers are seeking. By tailoring your coursework and highlighting the relevant skills, you can increase your chances of landing the job.

Where to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, there are different locations where you can include this information. Each location has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on your individual circumstances and goals.

Here are some of the places where you can list relevant coursework on your resume:

1. Education Section

The most common place to list relevant coursework is in the education section of your resume. This section typically comes after your work experience section and includes your academic achievements such as your degree(s) and the name of your institution.

• It’s the most traditional and expected location for listing education-related information.
• It provides a clear and organized overview of your academic background.
• Employers can easily see what courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the position.
• It might make your resume too lengthy if you have a long list of relevant coursework.
• It could highlight the fact that you don’t have a lot of professional experience.

2. Skills Section

Another option is to list your relevant coursework under the skills section of your resume. This section highlights your skills and abilities that match the requirements of the job.

• It allows you to emphasize your relevant coursework as a skill.
• It can complement your work experience and strengthen your candidacy for the role.
• It creates a differentiator for you against other applicants.
• It might not be as straightforward for employers to see where you obtained the coursework.
• It could make your skills section look cluttered and unorganized.

3. Additional Information Section

You can also use the additional information section to list your relevant coursework. This section is a catch-all for information that doesn’t fit other sections of your resume.

• It can provide context for other qualifications you may have.
• Employers may appreciate the added detail.
• It doesn’t take away from other sections of your resume.
• It may not be as visible as the other sections.
• It could look like an afterthought if not presented well.

How to Highlight Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When it comes to highlighting relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to use effective strategies that showcase your skills and knowledge. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Strategies for Effectively Showcasing Your Relevant Coursework

Create a separate section:  Consider adding a “Relevant Coursework” section to your resume. This section can come after your education section and can list relevant courses and their descriptions. Be sure to use relevant keywords to grab employers’ attention.

Include relevant coursework in your education section:  You can also include relevant coursework in your education section. This can give employers a quick snapshot of your relevant skills and coursework. Be sure to include the name of the course, the institution, and the grade earned.

List relevant coursework under each job experience:  If you have taken courses relevant to a particular job, consider listing them under the job experience section. This can highlight your skills and knowledge, and show how you can apply coursework to real-life situations.

The Importance of Targeting the Job Description

Another important strategy is to target the job description. Employers often use specific keywords in job descriptions to communicate what skills and experience they are looking for. By using these keywords in your resume, you can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge needed for the job.

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, be sure to read the job description carefully and list courses that are directly related to the job. Use the same terminology and keywords that the employer uses in their job description.

Highlighting relevant coursework on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants. By using effective strategies and targeting the job description, you can showcase your skills and knowledge, and demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job.

Using Keywords in Your Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to realize the significance of industry-specific keywords. These keywords are the industry terms, jargon, and buzzwords that are commonly used in your field. Using the appropriate keywords can help you stand out in the applicant pool and demonstrate your proficiency in the subject matter.

Understanding industry-specific keywords and why they matter in your resume

Most hiring managers and recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they’re passed on to human reviewers. ATS software scans resumes for specific keywords based on the position requirements. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a graphic designer, the ATS may be looking for keywords like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Therefore, including industry-specific keywords in your relevant coursework section can increase your chances of passing the ATS screening process. Additionally, keywords can help give context to the reader about the courses you’ve taken and demonstrate your fluency in the language of the industry.

How to incorporate keywords into your relevant coursework

Here are some tips for incorporating industry-specific keywords into your relevant coursework:

Research relevant job postings : Look at job postings for positions you’re interested in and note the common keywords used in the qualifications section.

Choose courses that align with your target job : Identify courses that directly relate to the positions you’re applying for and include them in your relevant coursework section. Be sure to include the course title, institution, and the skills or concepts you learned in each course.

Use industry jargon and technical terms : Incorporate industry-specific language and technical terms used in your field to demonstrate your familiarity with the industry.

Include relevant tools and software : If a job posting lists specific software or tools as requirements or preferred skills, be sure to include any courses that directly relate to those tools or software.

Including industry-specific keywords in your course listing can help you make a strong impression on hiring managers and improve your chances of landing an interview. It’s important to research the industry terms and language associated with the job you’re applying for and incorporate them into your relevant coursework section in a meaningful way.

Formatting Tips for Listing Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, proper formatting is key. Here are some tips to ensure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read:

Font, Size, and Spacing

Choose a professional font such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, and use a font size no smaller than 10 points. It’s important to have enough spacing between lines to give your resume a clean look. A standard spacing of 1.15 or 1.5 is recommended.

Consistency

Consistency is important in order to make your resume look polished and well-organized. Use the same font and size throughout your entire resume, including your relevant coursework section. Consistency also applies to the formatting of your coursework section. Use a bullet point format with clear headings for each course.

Readability

Be mindful of readability as you format your relevant coursework section. Use bullet points and short, concise descriptions of each course to make it easy for the reader to quickly scan and understand the content. Avoid lengthy paragraphs or complicated language.

By following these formatting tips, you can ensure that your relevant coursework section is visually appealing and easy to read. Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so it’s important to make sure it looks professional and well-organized.

Example of Listing Relevant Coursework for New Graduates

As a new graduate, your coursework is an essential component of your resume, especially if it pertains to the job you are applying for. Here are some strategies you can use to highlight your relevant coursework on your resume:

Create a dedicated coursework section: This section should come after your education section and can be called “Relevant Coursework” or “Course Highlights.” List the courses that are most relevant to the job you are applying for, and include the course title, the semester you took it, and the grade you received.

Incorporate coursework into your experience section: If you have completed any projects or internships that are relevant to the job, you can include relevant coursework in the description. For example, if you were part of a team that designed a new marketing campaign, you could include the marketing coursework you completed that helped you contribute to the project.

Use bullet points to highlight coursework: Use bullet points to describe the skills and knowledge you gained from each course. Focus on skills that are relevant to the job, such as research skills, data analysis skills, or communication skills.

Customize your coursework section for each job application: When applying for different jobs, adjust your coursework section to highlight the coursework that is most relevant for the job. Look for keywords in the job description and include coursework that is related to those keywords.

Here is an example of how a new graduate applying for a marketing position could list their relevant coursework on their resume:

Relevant Coursework

• Essentials of Marketing
• Consumer Behavior
• Marketing Research and Analysis
• Social Media Marketing
• Advertising and Promotions
• Marketing Communications

By highlighting your relevant coursework, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge needed for the job. So, take the time to review your coursework and tailor your resume accordingly.

Example of Listing Relevant Coursework for Experienced Professionals

As an experienced professional, it can be challenging to showcase your relevant coursework on your resume. However, it is essential to highlight your education and training, especially if it aligns with the job you’re applying for. Here are a few examples of how you can list your relevant coursework effectively:

1. Create a separate section for education

If you have accumulated a significant amount of coursework throughout your career, it’s best to create a separate section for education. This section should be placed after your work experience section and before your skills or certifications. List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree or certificate program. You can use the following format:

• Degree Name  – Institution Name, Location, Graduation Date
• Relevant Coursework: Course Name, Course Name, Course Name

For instance, suppose you achieved an executive MBA degree and completed coursework relevant to your target job such as strategic management, financial analysis, and leadership. In that case, you could list your education section in the following way:

• Executive MBA  – XYZ University, Chicago IL, May 2021
• Relevant Coursework: Strategic Management, Financial Analysis, Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

2. Incorporate coursework into your bullet points

If you don’t want to create a separate education section, you can still highlight your relevant coursework in your work experience section. Specifically, you can integrate your coursework into your bullet points to show how your education and training have informed your work experience. Here’s an example:

Marketing Manager

• Developed and executed digital marketing campaigns that increased website traffic by 30%, including email marketing and social media advertising.
• Conducted market research to identify target audiences, analyze customer behaviors and preferences and develop data-driven marketing strategies. (Relevant Coursework: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior)
• Collaborated with sales team to develop sales collateral (e.g., brochures, presentations) that highlight benefits of products and improve team productivity.

3. Emphasize relevant coursework in your cover letter

If you’ve completed coursework that is highly relevant to the job you’re applying for but doesn’t fit neatly into your resume, consider mentioning it in your cover letter. A cover letter is an opportunity to elaborate on your qualifications and expand on your resume. You can explain how your coursework has prepared you for the position and how you plan to apply that coursework to the role.

Listing relevant coursework is an excellent way to showcase your skills and knowledge, especially when transitioning careers or industries. By highlighting your education and training, you demonstrate your commitment to professional development and show that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the position. With the above examples, you can create an effective resume that highlights your relevant coursework and improves your chances of landing an interview.

What if You Don’t Have Relevant Coursework to List?

If you don’t have relevant coursework to list, don’t worry. There are still several ways you can demonstrate your skills and knowledge:

Alternative ways to demonstrate your skills and knowledge

Certifications: Obtaining relevant certifications can be a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to a particular field. Look for certifications that are recognized in your industry and relevant to your desired position.

Projects: If you have completed any projects that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, list them in a separate section on your resume. Use this section to showcase your skills and experience.

Volunteer work: Volunteer work can be a great way to gain experience in a particular field and demonstrate your commitment to a cause. If you have volunteered for any organizations that are relevant to your desired position, list them on your resume.

How to leverage your work experience instead

If you don’t have relevant coursework or certifications, you can still leverage your work experience to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Here are a few tips:

Focus on transferable skills: Look for skills that you have developed in your previous work experience that are transferable to the position you’re applying for. For example, if the position requires strong communication skills, highlight any roles where you had to communicate effectively with others.

Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Identify the key skills and requirements for the position and highlight your relevant experience in those areas.

Use action verbs: Use strong action verbs to describe your previous work experience. This will emphasize your skills and achievements and make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Remember, even if you don’t have relevant coursework to list, you can still demonstrate your skills and knowledge in other ways. Use your resume to showcase your experience, skills, and achievements, and don’t be afraid to highlight your transferable skills.

Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes that can hurt your chances of getting hired. Here are some of the most frequent errors candidates make and how to avoid them:

1. Listing Irrelevant Courses

One of the most common mistakes is listing coursework that is irrelevant to the position you’re applying to. For example, mentioning your graphic design class when you’re applying for a software engineering role. This will only confuse the hiring manager and may harm your application.

To avoid this mistake, carefully read the job description and the company’s requirements. Then, customize your resume to only list the coursework that aligns with the job requirements. By doing so, you’ll demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge the company is looking for.

2. Listing Too Many Courses

Another mistake that can hurt your chances of getting hired is listing too many courses. Hiring managers don’t have time to read a long list of every class you’ve ever taken. They want to see concise, relevant information that shows you’re qualified for the job.

Instead of flooding your resume with a laundry list of coursework, only list the courses that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Also, try to focus on the ones that are recent and that you’ve excelled in. This will help convey your expertise in the subject matter.

3. Failing to Highlight Achievements

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to not just list the classes but to also highlight any achievements or notable projects you completed during those courses.

For example, if you completed a project that involved coding a website, you should mention that and highlight any successful results that came from it. By showcasing your achievements and how you tackled challenges during coursework, you’re providing tangible examples of your abilities.

4. Not Proofreading

As with any section of your resume, it’s vital to proofread your listing of relevant coursework for any typos or mistakes. An error like this can make you come across as careless and less qualified.

Take the time to double-check your writing and make any necessary corrections before submitting your application. Having error-free writing can demonstrate a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.

Listing relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to demonstrate your skills and qualifications. But to do so successfully, it’s essential to avoid the mistakes above. By tailoring your resume to the job requirements, highlighting your achievements, and proofreading your work, you’ll be better placed to succeed in your job search.

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• How to List Relevant Coursework on Resume (with examples)

You have probably heard the importance of the job experience section in a resume on numerous occasions. What you may not know, however, is that it’s not the only thing that hiring managers are interested in when looking for the ideal candidate to fill a job opening. Even though related experience does matter, you should also pay attention to other sections, like relevant coursework, to come up with a well-balanced resume that persuades the potential employer to hire you.

In this piece, we will expound on:

• When it is right to add a coursework section and when it isn’t necessary;
• Where your coursework should appear and how to include it;
• Samples of coursework listed on resumes.

Listing Relevant Coursework on Resume and When to Leave It Out

In essence, listing related coursework on resume is optional. It is usually an essential section for your first resume with no work experience , i.e., student and entry-level resumes. The purpose of this part is to highlight any completed coursework that relates to the position you are targeting. It strengthens other components, such as academic accomplishments, volunteer experience, projects, and extra-curricular activities.

Adding relevant coursework can also be a great idea when you are crafting your resume for an internship. In this case, it can help you show why you are fit for the organization. So, when is listing related coursework not necessary?  

If you have a year or more of working experience that you can list on your resume, then adding a section for your coursework isn’t essential. Instead, pay attention to making your resume resound with the job description and add any other parts that you think could improve your candidacy.

Don’t also list coursework if you are forcing it. That is to say that any coursework you highlight in your resume should be relevant. If it does not relate to the job you are applying for, it will not make sense to the recruiting manager. Instead, work on drawing attention to your skillset.

How to Put Relevant Coursework on Resume Correctly

Now that you know when to include coursework, it’s time to figure out where to put relevant coursework on a resume. Relevant coursework on a resume should be included as a sub-section within the education part. Now, both the education or experience part can come first, depending on how much working history you have. For an entry-level candidate whose job experience is limited, the education section should precede experience.

Here are some ways of adding coursework to resume: 

List Coursework as an Extra Line Within Your Education Part

One easy way to talk about relevant coursework is to include an additional sentence below your degree. This method allows you to highlight other educational accomplishments too. For example:

University of Illinois

Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, May 2018

Relevant coursework : enterprise accounting systems, advanced financial accounting, income taxation, valuation and analysis, cost accounting, business law.

Use Bulleted Points to Emphasize on Your Coursework

Bullet points play a huge role when it comes to emphasizing the statements you put on your application. The same is true when it comes to showing your relevant coursework. Below is an excellent relevant coursework resume example.

2019 BA in Geography with Transport Studies

University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

• Digital Geographies
• The Urban Age
• Global Geopolitics, Migration and Uneven Development
• Transport Policy in Action
• Population, Society, and Space
• Planet Under Threat

Show the Relevance of the Coursework to the Role with Detailed Bullets

Describe the relevance of the coursework to the role you want to take up using more comprehensive bullet points. This way, you will provide the talent acquisition executive with a better perspective regarding the suitability of your coursework to the vacancy you want to fill. Below is an example showing how to write detailed bullet points for relevant coursework on resume.

• Digital Geographies - submitted a term paper on how digital devices, logic, forth are transforming geography.
• The Urban Age - covered the details on how the modern age has impacted existence on the universe.
• Global Geopolitics, Migration, and Uneven Development - learned how migration and disparity in economic development are impacting worldwide geopolitics.
• Transport Policy in Action - examined the impact and efficacy of transport policies by analyzing different case studies.
• Population, Society, and Space - understood the relationship between people, communities, and land.
• Planet Under Threat - examined the different threats to earth in the 21 st century and beyond.

An essential thing to keep in mind is that if the role demands an excellent educational background and accomplishments, it would be sensible if you dedicated a whole CV section to your coursework. Then, you will have to provide bulleted-lists with more detailed descriptions of your resume related coursework.

Are you struggling with creating bullets for your coursework? Use our free resume building service to overcome this predicament and be on course to landing your dream job!

What to Remember When Including Relevant Coursework on Resume

All told, when putting coursework on resume, there are essential things to have in mind. These include the following:

• Ensure that your CV matches the role you want to fill.
• If your coursework is vital to the position, include it in the upper section of your document.
• Coursework info should be accompanied by other academic details, case in point, GPA, honors, recognitions, etc.
• Include keywords from the vacancy description in your coursework info to make ATS find your CV quickly.
• Provide information other than your coursework, for instance, school projects, publications, etc.
• List online certifications, if any.
• Go through to ensure all the info you have provided is relevant.

To conclude, these are the tips for crafting the perfect resume with relevant coursework. By following this guide, you will write an application that stands out in a pile, boosting your chances of getting accepted for the occupation of your dream.

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How To List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

Most students and recent graduates do not have a wealth of professional experience to list on a resume, so including relevant coursework can help potential employers get an idea of the skills and qualifications that you are currently developing. This article will cover what relevant coursework is as well as how and when to include it on your resume.

What is Relevant Coursework?

Relevant coursework refers to the classes and subjects that you studied in school which are useful for the position that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to a marketing position and you have taken classes in psychology that focus on language, emotion, and motivation, that class would be considered relevant since the goal of marketing is to use language and emotion to motivate people to purchase goods and services.

Relevant coursework doesn’t only have to be strictly classes. You can also include academic projects like a thesis or dissertation as well as research that you have done. Online courses are also acceptable to list if they pertain to the job.

The courses and projects that you include must actually be relevant to the position that you are applying for. Don’t list your entire transcript - instead, choose the top 3-5 courses, projects, or subjects that are the most relevant.

If it’s not immediately clear why you are listing a course on your resume, consider including a brief description of the subject materials, projects you completed for the class, and/or how the class will help you perform in the position that you are applying for.

When To Include Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

Consider including relevant coursework on your resume if you are currently a student, you’ve recently graduated, you are applying to an internship , or you are applying to entry-level positions. Additionally, if you are applying to academic or other education-focused positions, it may be appropriate to include relevant courses and details about your studies.

Especially if you have taken AP, IB, or honors classes, listing relevant courses on your resume can show potential employers that you are intelligent, dedicated, and studious.

Finally, if the employer asks for details like a certain degree or diploma, your GPA, or a portfolio of past projects that you have completed, that can be a cue that they will be pleased to see your relevant coursework on your resume as well.

When Not To Include Relevant Coursework

If you have more than a year of professional work experience , you likely don’t need to include relevant coursework on your resume. If you have more than five years of work experience, you almost definitely do not need to include high school or college coursework. Employers will be focused more on your recent work experience than classes that you took many years ago.

Additionally, if you are applying for entry-level positions where school coursework isn’t particularly relevant at all (such as waitstaff jobs, outdoor recreation positions, etc.) then you may be better off focusing on hard and soft skills and certifications over schoolwork.

Selecting relevant coursework to advance your career

If you’re at the beginning (or even in the middle) of your college journey, it’s important to consider your future career as you select your course load. This will ensure you can list relevant coursework on a resume when it’s time for you to begin job hunting. 

One way to do this is to research job titles you would like to have in the future and align the courses you select with the common skills listed in the job descriptions. If your school publishes a catalog, you may want to consult the course descriptions to figure out the skills you’ll gain from each course.

For example, someone who wants to go into marketing may take relevant courses in market research, consumer behavior, or emotional psychology. A person looking to be a graphic designer may need to take classes in typography, color theory, or UX design .

In some cases, your intended career will dictate the coursework you must take. For example, if you intend to be a certified public accountant, you may be required to take classes in auditing, tax concepts, business administration, and forensics. These classes are necessary to obtain certification and work as a CPA.

However, even in these cases, your schedule may still leave room for elective courses. If so, choose classes that will help you build relevant skills for your profession. For an accountant, those skills might be communication, critical thinking, and research strategies. Your related coursework, alongside your academic achievements, will help you stand out as a thoughtful, well-prepared candidate.

Make sure you use the resources available to you, such as academic and career counselors. These professionals have extensive experience helping people choose relevant classes that align with their career goals, and they can likely design an academic track to help you get where you want to be.

How To List Your Relevant Coursework

When crafting your job application, you don’t need a special relevant coursework resume section. Instead, you can incorporate this information into standard resume sections. If you’ve decided that it makes sense for you to include your relevant coursework on your resume, here’s how to do so:

Add Courses to Your Education Section

Naturally, it makes the most sense to add relevant coursework to the education section of your resume. You can add a subsection under each degree that you earned or school that you attended, or you can place your coursework at the bottom underneath all of your school details.

If you have little or no professional experience , place your education section first on your resume, just below your header and your resume objective . You may also wish to use a functional or skill-based resume format to highlight your skills. If you do have some relevant professional experience to list, place that at the top and your education section underneath.

Use either a comma-separated list, a simple bulleted list, or a bulleted list with some additional details for each course.

For example, here’s how to list coursework in a comma-separated list:

BA in Journalism

UC Davis, Davis, CA

Relevant Coursework: Ethical Journalism, Global Journalism, Technical Writing

You can also use a bulleted list, which can be helpful if you want to demonstrate proficiency in multiple fields:

Relevant Coursework: Journalism

• Ethical Journalism
• Global Journalism
• Editor of the weekly student newspaper
• Completed Research Internship with LA Times

Relevant Coursework: English

• Technical Writing
• Creative Writing
• Expository Writing

Finally, you may wish to include a short description of each course that reinforces its relevance to the job. When listing relevant coursework, you can include details about projects you completed in those classes. Here’s an example:

• Ethical Journalism - Learned principles and practices to ensure the accurate, complete, and fair exchange of information. Completed a hands-on project that included evaluating sources for real news stories to determine the accuracy of the reporting
• Global Journalism - Learned how to present news items with a global outlook and report on issues that affect the entire world
• Completed Research Internship with LA Times - Learned the basics of journalistic research and the processes involved in operating the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country

A comma-separated list will take up the least amount of precious space on your resume, but if your relevant coursework is the highlight of your resume and/or you have blank space to fill, you may wish to provide more detail about each course.

Tailor Your Relevant Coursework to Each Position

For every job you apply to, ensure that your resume lists only relevant coursework and projects that showcase job-related skills. Tailoring your entire resume to each position can help your application pass automated applicant tracking system ( ATS ) scans and get your resume into the hands of a human hiring manager. This can be achieved by using keywords and phrases from the job description as well as pertinent industry keywords throughout your resume to demonstrate that you have the qualifications , skills, and experience necessary for the job.

You can even tailor your education section and your relevant coursework to the job posting. Especially if you opt to use a detailed, bulleted list of relevant coursework, you can use the description of each course as an opportunity to include more keywords.

Start with the most relevant courses

Again, all the coursework that you include on your resume should be directly relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job in the arts, you don’t need to give details about the math classes you took because they don’t represent relevant coursework. Resumes should always be customized for the position you want, and including unnecessary information prevents you from achieving that goal.

When listing courses, always start with the most relevant coursework first within your list. Most hiring managers will only spend a few seconds scanning your resume, so it’s crucial to put your most impressive and important details first.

Consider Adding Other Education Details

If you decide to include relevant coursework, you may wish to add other educational details and achievements as well to round out your academic background. For example, you might include your GPA (if it’s above a 3.5) and awards like honor roll, scholarships, dean’s list, being valedictorian/salutatorian, Latin honors (magna cum laude, etc.), and so forth. You can also include membership in school, national, or international honor societies, business or professional fraternities, and other groups or organizations.

Key Takeaways

Adding relevant coursework is a great way to beef up your resume if you do not have professional work experience to list, such as if you are currently a student, you’ve recently graduated, or you are applying to entry-level jobs. It can also be appropriate to include your coursework if you are applying for an academic-based position. If you do include your relevant coursework, ensure that it is, in fact, relevant - only include courses if they directly boost your ability to perform the job you are applying for.

Need help creating a resume to highlight your relevant coursework? Check out Jobseeker’s resume builder tool, which allows you to add your details and easily swap between resume templates , styles, colors, and more with just a few clicks. Then, download your polished, professional resume instantly and get started applying for jobs!

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Listing Relevant Coursework on a Resume: Get it Right!

Offering a very thin resume translates to modest employment potentials for newbie job hunters. Increasing the chances of finding work is dependent on the impression you make on the recruiter.

The best way to accomplish this is to have a major asset up your sleeve to enrich your resume—your overall coursework. It might not seem as relevant, but showcasing your coursework in your resume shows you’re a knowledgeable and well-prepared applicant for any position.

Featuring relevant coursework in your resume will build up your credibility—especially if you can share your projects and academic achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

It’s crucial to remember when you are making your resume that it should not be a catalog of volunteer work or an internship —but a tailor-made document that emphasizes the professional qualities you need to get the job.

But, what makes coursework essential on a resume?

More importantly, how does getting your coursework into your resume template make for a more professional impression?

Read on as we answer these and more below and discuss the importance of featuring relevant coursework in your resume.

In this post, you will find:

What is Relevant Coursework on a Resume?

A resume featuring relevant coursework consists of various courses you took at school, alongside the academic experiences that actually apply to the job position. The education section is the best place in a resume for coursework as it highlights your most hirable achievements concerning the role.

Still, both the subjects and projects listed must be relevant for the job position.

For example, being a debate champion has nothing to do with culinary arts. Instead, pointing out that you took and excelled in a class on economics at college is far more appropriate for that accounting position you’re applying for.

It is also not important to list the number of subjects you studied as a students part of your resume coursework . The specifics of what you studied, on the other hand, will be what counts the most in the employer’s eyes. Solely listing a course on resumes will not be enough in making those highlights stand out.

A resume with relevant coursework targets the skills vital for the target job and steers clear of stuffing the resume with filler information. The best approach to listing courses on resumes is to include projects, internships, and certificates you have acquired.

How to Write a Resume: The Ins and Outs

If you are wondering how to add relevant classes/courses on a resume , there are a couple of principles to follow for the best results.

When to Include and Exclude Relevant Coursework

Relevant coursework you add to your resume can include a past or present class you are taking or projects you were involved with. Not just that, it’s also highly recommended to list examples of where you have competence in a given field, and the degree of experience that will interest your employer in taking a chance on you.

Some instances when you should include your relevant coursework on your resume are:

• If you are a recent graduate . The education system aims to prepare students to join the workforce immediately. However, employers always want to see clear evidence of your core competencies , which can be conveyed via your coursework projects.
• Lacking work experience . If you haven’t had a full time job in your sector before, you can build credibility by including related resume coursework, thus showcasing your professional potential for the suitable position. Check our guide on how to write a resume with no experience and to make the most of your education and related coursework to catch the recruiter’s attention.
• A change of career . You may be a highly qualified professional in a given industry. Still, if you decide to change industry, you’ll be forfeiting your status as an experienced professional and starting from scratch as a rookie.

Our free online resume builder lets you can add relevant coursework easily to showcase your professional potential, that, in tandem with your work ethic, can make you a good fit for your desired position.

When to Exclude Coursework from Your Resume

With all this being said, there are also occurrences when it’s wiser to exclude coursework on your resume:

• If your resume is too long . If you’re blessed with both skills and work experience, you can afford to be selective and choose what’s appropriate. Unless you have a crucial certification for the job, listing all the relative coursework may be misunderstood as a not-so-subtle attempt to impress.
• Outdated coursework . You just celebrated your class reunion, but it’s been20 years since your graduation. Times have changed, and with them, so has the curriculum used for college classes. So, it could be better to leave out some irrelevant details from the resume altogether.
• Not relevant to the position . Let’s not forget that resume coursework must be compatible with the job opening. After all, it’s called relevant coursework for a good reason. So, if the coursework has nothing in common with the job you are going for, there’s no benefit in mentioning the coursework at all.

How to List Relevant Coursework

Depending on the structure of your resume and the information you provide, there are several ways you can add relevant coursework to your resume. Remember, the entry-level candidate resume should not be longer than one page. Also, don’t forget to mention online courses you’ve completed and to place the relevant coursework in the right order.

If a job requires educational achievements, put your education at the top of the list.

If a skill in the job posting appears to be a priority for your potential employee, you ought to list both relevant internships and projects that align with this desired skill.

The visuals of the resume are important, so consider a column or a detailed resume format. Below are a few different ways to list any relevant course on resumes. Look at them!

Single-column format

The single-column format is similar to the education part of the resume, promoting your relevant coursework in list form.

As a practical resume example, a candidate applying for a psychology job should include the following:

Bachelor’s in Psychology Columbia University, New York Graduation: 2019

• Learning and Cognition
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Social Psychology
• Psychology of Emotion

Multi-column Format

If you have multiple skills you are looking to make the focal point of this section, consider a multi-column format. For each column, use a different header with the relevant courses listed underneath.

Example of a multi-column format:

Bachelor’s in Information Technology Pennsylvania State University, PA Graduation: 2020

Related Coursework:

• Application Development—developed IT concepts and skills for web development.
• Human-Centered Design—research into increasing the usability of IT systems with a human-centric approach.
• Networking and Telecommunications—studied transmission media, cybersecurity, and digital signal modulations.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning :

• Machine Learning: Studying the interrelation between AI and machine learning, its influence on business processes, and marketing teams.
• Artificial Intelligence implications for business strategy: Acquired knowledge to guide AI integrations into current companies to implement strategic decisions.

Detailed Format

A detailed format resume goes more in-depth than just using the course title. It provides more specifics on the skills you may have learned in each individual course. This format will look more like the layout you’re used to seeing under the work experience section of a resume.

Bachelor’s in Marketing University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Graduation: 2020

Global Marketing Techniques

• Awareness of B2B marketing strategies, social media campaigning, public relations, and content creation.
• Studied the relationships between businesses and how acceptance to marketing is modified in contrast to B2C.

Public Relations

• Building contacts with editors, writing press releases, and pitching articles topics
• Implementing public relations campaigns, hosting open days, and event promotion.

Retail and Sales Management

• Learning the basics of marketing, copywriting, psychology of customers, analysis of data, and more.
• Formulating and implementing a marketing plan.

Coursework on a Resume: Conclusion

If you include relevant coursework on resumes, you make it easier to communicate the value you can bring to a business . Keep the job description in focus when choosing what information to incorporate when listing courses on resumes, and where you position it on the page.

Whether you opt for an online design tool, or want to use the free online resume builder of ResumeGiants specifically designed by professional resume experts—the details you put in it will be just as important as the things you decide to leave out.

Remember, at the end of the day, a quality resume is your signal bonfire to attract recruiters to your position—and including relevant coursework in it can be the fuel that ignites your dream career.

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• Career Planning
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How to Include Relevant Coursework On Your Resume

Craft a Resume That Focuses on Student Coursework

What Courses and Projects to Include

Other experience to include.

• How to Add Relevant Coursework

Use Keywords in Your Descriptions

Proofread and edit.

• Where to Put the Education Section
• Example of a Coursework-Focused Resume

As a current student or recent graduate, you may not have very much work experience to include on your resume. However, you can potentially strengthen your resume by emphasizing related coursework and other academic projects. 

Employers understand that entry-level employees may not have a whole lot of career experience. They will often look at your coursework and academic experiences to help determine whether you have the knowledge to fill the open position.

Add Relevant Coursework

When  creating a resume , you can add a section titled “Relevant Coursework." In it, include the courses directly related to the position you are applying for. For example, if you're applying for work as a paralegal, list any classes you took related to law or politics.

List Projects

Similarly, if you have completed any research projects related to your future career, list these too. If you're applying for a job that involves conducting research, list any extensive research projects you worked on.

Having a section listing relevant coursework makes sense if you're applying for an internship or entry-level position. Once you can no longer be termed a recent graduate, and have some on-the-job experience, you can remove this section from your resume. 

Emphasize Your Achievements

Beyond related coursework, you should also emphasize any academic successes, such as a high GPA or an award from an academic department. It's a good idea to include this information in the education section.

Although these successes may not appear to be directly related to the job for which you are applying, they demonstrate your hard work and responsibility.

Extracurricular Activities

If you participated in any sports or clubs where you developed skills relevant to the job you’re applying for, include these too. You could, for example, include a section in your resume titled “Extracurricular Activities,” or you might highlight activities in a broader section titled “Relevant Experience.”

Volunteering

Volunteer work is a relevant experience. Even if you didn't get paid for this work,  volunteer experiences  can make terrific additions to your resume. For example, if you're applying for a job as a teacher’s assistant, describe your volunteer tutor experience.

How to Add Relevant Coursework to Your Resume

You'll likely want to add this information below your college or graduate information.

Relevant Coursework Section

You can format it as a single section—for example, if you're applying for a role as a journalist:

Relevant coursework:  Ethics in Journalism, Modern Media Communications, and Forensic Accounting for Journalists

Relevant Coursework List

Or, you may opt to format the information as a bullet-point list. For instance, if you're applying for a role in marketing, you could present your coursework like this: 

• Developing a Brand 
• Communications 
• Public Speaking 

More Options

Finally, you may want to share several types of experience, using more detailed bullet points. Or, you may want to share some descriptive details about the courses you've listed if it's not clear from the course titles. 

If you include coursework on your resume, be prepared to talk about the classes and what you learned in them during interviews. 

Including relevant coursework on your resume is a good way to incorporate keywords. Look for keywords in the job listing, and try to include them in this section. 

For instance, if the job requires field research experience, you can mention your “30+ hours of field research” in the description of your senior project. Or, you can add "Field Research Methods" as one of the courses you've taken. 

Take the time to thoroughly edit your resume for spelling and grammar errors. Also, make sure that your font and style choices are consistent—for example, if you format one section title in bold, all section titles should be bold.

You might set up a meeting with a counselor at your college career services office to have someone else read through your resume too.

Where to List the Education Section of Your Resume

The education section of your resume—which generally includes relevant coursework—can be placed at the top or bottom of the document. If it's your best experience, or if you think your educational background will be relevant to hiring managers, include whatever is most appropriate at the top of the document.

Example of a Coursework-Focused Resume

This resume focuses on relevant coursework and leadership experiences.

Student Resume Focusing on Coursework

Hailey Applicant 456 Oakwood Terrace Anytown, PA 99999 (555) 555-555 haileyapplicant@XYZcollege.edu

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Advancing science and law through dedicated legal and scientific research

A respected research assistant who has worked with tenured professors, practicing lawyers, school administrators, and company executives to produce research reports on scientific study and Supreme Court case law.

Key skills include:

• Computer-Assisted Research
• Organizing Research Data for Comprehensive Reports
• Analyzing Case Law
• Working with Research Teams
• Presenting Research Data

RELEVANT LEGAL COURSEWORK AND RESEARCH

XYZ LABS, White Plains, NY RESEARCH ASSISTANT (Fall 2020 – Present) Collaborate with an adviser, research team, and Smith School of Medicine to conduct research regarding the effects of steroids on the activity level of rats.

Notable accomplishments:

• Use a computer to gather and analyze data for distribution to the research team.
• Present new findings in bimonthly discussion with the department.

SOCIOLOGY OF LAW COURSE, SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, XYZ COLLEGE, White Plains, NY RESEARCH INTERN (Spring 2020) Researched case law dealing with social policy and the Supreme Court.

Notable Accomplishments:

• Analyzed cases and produced final paper regarding social policy in court cases.
• Explained results and conclusions in a final presentation to practicing lawyers.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

XYZ COLLEGE , White Plains, NY Bachelor of Arts in Government (Cumulative GPA: 3.9) Awarded Outstanding Government Student, May 2020

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word • Excel • PowerPoint • LexisNexis • Adobe

• EXPLORE Random Article
• Happiness Hub

How to Mention Relevant Coursework in a Resume

Last Updated: May 25, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Amber Leima and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Amber Leima is a Resumé Consultant and the Founding Editor of Best Words Editing. She has two decades of experience helping people and companies express their unique value. Amber is a master at drawing out what matters from your personal story and promoting it to optimal effect, crafting beautifully clear resumés and on-point personal branding supported by thoughtfully-structured interview coaching. She holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in English Literature from the University of Sussex, England. Her clients have been hired by their employers of choice, including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and PayPal. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 354,843 times.

Crafting a great resume isn’t easy! One of the many tricky parts is choosing what to add and what to leave out—for instance, should you list some relevant coursework? Adding coursework can be particularly important if you are a recent graduate and have little relevant work experience. If you determine that you should indeed add relevant coursework to your resume, it’s critical to ensure it is truly relevant to the position for which you are applying—and is listed in the right place with sensible formatting!

Selecting Coursework for Inclusion

• The general cut-off point is typically 5 years of relevant work experience: if you have less than this, add relevant coursework to your resume; if you have more than this, only add relevant coursework if it’s hyper-specific to the job or internship.
• Still not sure if you should add coursework to your resume? Ask yourself if you’ll rely on talking about coursework during an interview. In other words, do you have enough relevant work experience that you won’t need to mention your coursework during an interview? If the answer is “yes,” then you typically don’t need to add coursework to your resume.

• Remember: just because you’re not done with a course or degree doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant! Always list any in-progress coursework and note the planned completion date of the course or degree.
• List the courses by their actual title, not their course number or some nickname: for example, “United States History to 1877,” not “U.S. History 101” or “American History I.” This isn’t absolutely essential while brainstorming, but it makes things easier once it’s time to transfer coursework to your resume. [3] X Research source

• If, for example, you’re a communications major and are applying for a social media internship, any social media communication classes you’ve taken should be considered relevant. Or, if you’re applying for an HR job and have taken courses on finance and payroll as part of your human resources major, definitely include these if the position involves areas like compensation and benefits.

• For example, if you are applying for a position at an aerospace engineering firm, you should list your internship at an aerospace research facility. Or, if you are applying for a social media position at a marketing company, you might list volunteer experience as the social media director at a local festival.

Adding Coursework to Your Resume

• Suggested section title: Relevant Education and Coursework.
• For example, you may have earned a degree in English, but are now studying graphic design at your local college. If you are applying for a position at a graphic design firm, list this educational experience first, before your English degree.

Bachelor of Science in Genetic Engineering Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Expected completion date: 05/2017

Bachelor of Science in Genetic Engineering Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Expected completion date: 05/2017 Relevant coursework: Lab Testing & Reporting, Genetic Manipulation, Social Implications of Genetic Engineering.

Advanced Studies in Marketing and Advertising Hudson Community College, Hudson, New York Expected completion date: 05/2015

• It’s also not necessary to list your final GPA for a degree or course, as most employers will not notice the score. But if you graduated with high honors, such as summa cum laude or with honors , make a note of this in your resume.

Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Graduated with Honors Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec Relevant Coursework: Advanced Topics in Social Anthropology, Research and Investigation, Advanced Studies in Ancient Cities.

Expert Q&A

• Even if your education and coursework listing feels a bit thin for the position, it’s important not to fabricate coursework on your resume. Your employer may ask you about this made-up coursework, putting you in a position where you must either come clean or be dishonest in your interview. [10] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://publichealth.gwu.edu/blogs/careers/2014/04/15/weekly-career-tip-including-relevant-coursework-on-a-resume/
• ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-and-how-not-to-list-education-on-your-resume
• ↑ Amber Leima. Resumé Consultant. Expert Interview. 18 March 2022.
• ↑ Alyson Garrido, PCC. Career Coach. Expert Interview. 24 January 2019.
• ↑ https://career.virginia.edu/blog/how-create-stem-resume-basics
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2017/06/07/your-handy-answer-to-how-long-do-i-keep-my-graduation-year-on-my-resume/#3789e7ee6d2e
• ↑ https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2019/01/why-you-should-never-lie-on-a-resume-7-stories-of-people-who-got-caught

About this article

Referencing your coursework is a great way to show an employer the knowledge and experience you have in a particular field. If you've completed any coursework relevant to the job you're applying for, include it in your resume to show off your skills. To do this, list your coursework in your education section, underneath your degree. Write your degree or course first, then your university or college, followed by your graduation date or anticipated completion date. Then, underneath that, add the subheading “Relevant coursework,” and list 1-3 examples of relevant coursework. For more tips, including how to work out which coursework is most relevant to the job you’re applying for, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume (With ...

How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume [10 ...

How to List Relevant Coursework On Resume [Tips & ...

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with ...

3 Examples of relevant coursework in resumes. As you've learned, coursework can help improve a resume if you don't have much experience. Here are three examples of relevant coursework incorporated into resumes: Example 1. An education section is the simplest way to incorporate relevant coursework into a resume. In this case, the applicant ...

On your resume, you can make a section called 'Relevant Coursework' and list any specific classes that are useful for the job you're applying to. For instance, if you are applying for a finance internship, list any business or finance courses you completed. In this section, you could also include any meaningful research experiences you had.

It's important to understand that the names of courses vary significantly from university to university. If the official name of the course fails to convey what you were learning, you may want to use a relevant keyword as the course title instead. For instance, instead of "Intro Accounting 101", you may want to use a title such as ...

Coursework Resume Example 3: Standard List. Resume real estate is valuable. If you don't have much white space on this document, you may not be able to bullet-point your relevant coursework. Luckily, there is another option. You can list your achievements beneath your diploma, using a comma to separate them. Example.

Create an Education section on your resume. For recent graduates, this can go at the top of your resume, above your Work Experience section. List the name of the school, the degree you studied, and your graduation date (optional). Underneath, create a subheading titled "Relevant Coursework.". List a small number of courses (no more than 3-4 ...

Below are the different ways to include relevant coursework on your resume: Single-column format. The single-column format displays your relevant coursework in a list form with bullet points. Here, you'll list the relevant class title you're looking to highlight and no additional information. Multi-column format.

How To Include Relevant Coursework on a Student Resume

How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume + Examples

2. Enter the Resume Section Header. The header of your coursework section could either be "coursework" or "relevant coursework.". Make this nice and clear and easy to read for the hiring manager. Use bold text for the headers and lining to make the resume section stand out. 3. Enter the Subheaders.

1. Education Section. The most common place to list relevant coursework is in the education section of your resume. This section typically comes after your work experience section and includes your academic achievements such as your degree (s) and the name of your institution.

Below is an excellent relevant coursework resume example. 2019 BA in Geography with Transport Studies. University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. Coursework: Digital Geographies. The Urban Age. Global Geopolitics, Migration and Uneven Development. Transport Policy in Action.

Including relevant coursework on your resume is a good way to incorporate keywords. Look for keywords in the job listing, and try to include them in this section. For instance, if the job requires field research experience, you can mention your "30+ hours of field research" in the description of your senior project. Or, you can add "Field ...

How To List Online Courses on a Resume (With Examples)

Add coursework to your resume if you have limited relevant work experience. Recent graduates looking for a job or current students looking to build their resume through an internship should always include relevant coursework. Your coursework can make up for a lack of hands-on experience in the industry.

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