Some have negative comments and others think that the tests have positive results. A positive outcome is that these standardized tests give teachers guidance to help them determine what to teach students and when to teach it. Some seem to think that tests are reliable and objective measures of a student's performance. Without them, policymakers would have to rely on tests scored by individual schools and teachers who have a vested interest in producing favorable results. Standardized tests show accurate comparison across schools, districts, and states. Some proponents of the tests argue that the tests allow comparison between subgroups. These groups may include socioeconomic status, ethnicity, special needs, etc. This provides schools with data to develop programs and services aimed at cultivating the scores of these subgroups. Another positive outcome of these exams is that parents can see how well their child is doing in these courses compared to other children around the world.