Then again, since one half of the population is to the left of the bell curve, why should we be surprised?
That's stats for you.
Not true for most who are doing poorly on these tests, but some people really can not do well on tests and therefore the tests fail to truly measure their ability to read. Some kids get A's and B's in school on assignments where there is no time limit but do terribly on big aptitude tests.
In life, most of the time we are not under the clock in fifteen minute intravals, to read and react quickly. What matters more in life are people who are willing to do what it takes to do an excellent job. I know we had to have the tests because our schools are so incompetent we needed some incentive for the idiots to teach. But we should not go overboard in thinking the tests mean more than they actually do. I wish we could take all that money as vouchers and establish an independent schooling scheme.