I always liked standardized tests in grammar school. I always performed in the top 1% or 2%. I never felt like my future rested upon my score on these tests which probably removed any stress or tension from the testing experience.
I had the experience of attending a competitive private school from seventh grade through twelfth. In order to gain admission, a student needed to pass a test. We knew the significance of the SATs, but we weren't trained to take them. We were taught the importance of a well rounded education. It seems that when students are trained specifically to take these standardized tests, they don't learn to think for themselves.