Chapter 3 and 4 for Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap by Richard Rothstein speaks about standardized testing and cognitive skills. For years now students have taken tests to test their knowledge in specific subjects such as Math, Literacy, Science, sometimes in World History, in the past I've been put in particular classes for the following year due to my results in the standardized tests. These tests are due to see if the professor is teaching these the necessary material for the course, therefore they so follow a specific curriculum and the state enforces these standardized tests for that. Along with prizes for the school if the students ranks high scores and a bonus may be made to the school for that too. Due to resources made in particular schools the ranking may be higher than those with less resources because technology, books or classes aren't offered.  I've had experiences where schooling wasn't so easy because of the lack of resources my school had, therefore my test scores would be below the average. This chapter was highly relative because of how important and pushed standardized tests are then and now.