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No, but it would help if the tests were written WELL. They tend to (probably unintentionally) create test questions that trip up even children who know the definition. For example, in my ESL class, (this example is from memory, so it's not exact but you'll get the idea.) one of the vocabulary words is "argument." The book defines "argument" as a dispute or a disagreement. Then there's a story with a "conflict" (which the kids are also to absorb is another word for argument. Finally comes the multiple choice test:

An argument is when two people
a. agree
b. work together
c. feel differently
d. quarrel

You probably see the problem. The kids now know what an argument is, but the people who made the test apparently believe that they've heard the word "quarrel" before. But they haven't. It's nowhere in the prepared text.

When teachers complain about this kind of set-up, we are told to look at the test in advance and "frontload" the kids so they know that quarrel is another word for argument. But these high-stakes test, we don't get to see in advance. So we really get screwed sometimes. They tell us what they want to test the kids on but they make the questions so bizarre...

Another one that always made me mad was the part where we're suppose to be teaching them the words because, however, and although. Now, logically, if they don't know the word "because," then their English skills must be very remedial, right? Okay, so they're given a paragraph on the economy of the Island of Hispaniola and told to use the proper word to hook together the following: The primary export of Hispaniola is agricultural and several gold and silver deposits are also located there.

Now, if they don't know "because," are they going to know primary, export, economy, agricultural, deposits, and located? No, of course not. Again, teachers are told "Well, look at the test in advance and teach them all those words too. And also teach them how countries trade and create wealth."

Again, this is already making it unnecessarily difficult for teacher and student alike. Now imagine those tests being tossed at your kids and you CAN'T see them in advance and be ready to let them know that, while you have taught them what a metaphor is, you now must quickly teach them what is a windmill and a saber, because that's going to be the example the test will use.