Tests not the only gauge of pupils, academy says

Standardized tests can help predict success, but should not be used as the only yardstick for excellence by schools or employers, a study released by the National Academy of Sciences concludes.

The report, ''Ability Testing: Uses, Consequences, and Controversies,'' was a three-year look at the role of testing in American life at a time when standardized tests have become increasingly controversial.

The report urged that federal guidelines be developed for the use of tests by businesses and warned employers against placing too much emphasis on employment tests.

In elementary and secondary schools, the report urged that tests alone not be the sole determiner of a child's future.