Which educational philosophy primarily focuses on the memorization of facts for testing?

The focus on memorization of facts for testing aligns most closely with essentialism. This educational philosophy emphasizes an academic curriculum that involves mastering core knowledge and essential skills, making it conducive to memorization and standardized testing. Essentialists advocate for a structured approach to education, where students are expected to learn foundational elements across subjects, often through repetition and memorization.

In contrast, constructivism prioritizes active learning and the idea that students build their knowledge through experiences rather than rote memorization. Behaviorism, while it involves reinforcement and learning through observable behaviors, does not inherently focus on factual memorization but rather on conditioning responses. Humanism emphasizes personal growth and self-directed learning, often nurturing individual interests over the mere recollection of facts. Thus, essentialism is the philosophy that most directly correlates with the memorization of facts for the purpose of assessment.