I was in first grade in 1970 (yikes I'm old!). We did ave standardized tests even back then. They weren't percentiles but percentages, so not normed like today's tests. I remember kindergarten being very much play based. First grade was when we learned to read. I think I was an early reader but don't recall. I do remember being bored in school. At some point, we started SRA and that was independent work. I liked that much better as I was able to go at my own speed.