What can high-stakes testing lead to in terms of curriculum delivery?

High-stakes testing can often lead to narrowing the curriculum and teaching to the test because schools and educators may focus primarily on the content that is directly assessed in these standardized tests. This emphasis arises from the pressure to achieve certain test scores, which can influence what is taught in the classroom. As a result, subjects or topics that are not included in the testing may be deprioritized or even excluded entirely to ensure that students perform well on the tests that matter most for school funding, accountability, and evaluations. Therefore, teachers might limit their instruction to test-relevant concepts and skills, thereby constraining the broader educational experience.