Neither teacher-made tests nor the Scholastic Aptitude Test are appropriate for measuring the attainment of national education goals. Most practitioners involved in discussions of national high-stakes examinations argue that new tests are needed. A new system that preserves state and local autonomy in education as it measures the attainment of national and world-class standards has been proposed. Several issues in developing a national testing system are discussed. The first question is what the test would cover. It makes sense to develop alternative cluster tests for different curricula and to set appropriate standards for each cluster. Deciding who will take the test and how to compare results is a second set of issues to be resolved. Setting performance standards is another question with important consequences. A different set of problems is posed in using a test for accountability. Many specific questions must be addressed in the implementation of a national testing system. A test intended for many purposes will be unlikely to serve any purpose very well. (SLD)