The results of a two-year study indicate that collaborative testing is a valuable pedagogical strategy that can both assess and enhance student learning. After finishing their first attempt at each exam, students were given a second attempt either working collaboratively in small groups or individually with open books and notes. Collaborative…

Background: Policy discussion to change the nature of teaching practices overshadows how social and economic inequalities contribute to unequal education outcomes. Research on how teaching practices contribute to the variance in test scores on a broad scale or on whether the relation of instruction to test scores is moderated by social and…

Guidelines for test developers and users are provided to insure that construction and selection of test instruments are conducted fairly. In addition to development and selection, issues of interpretation of scores; provision of information to test takers; and prevention of test bias based on race, gender, or ethnicity are addressed. Twenty-one…

Provides a brief history of competitive examinations and testing--especially in education--and reminds teachers of the purposes of testing. (RB)

This study is part of a continuing search for measures of divergent thinking and for better predictors of performance in occupational areas depending on such ways of thinking. Traditional predictors of college performance, i.e., high school GPA and tests of verbal and quantitative aptitude have always worked much better estimating success in…

The author, as a testing consultant, has considered and answered 16 questions on the various aspects of testing usually asked by school staff members. The questions and answers are primarily concerned with statistical aspects of achievement tests and the best way to interpret test results to clients, parents and teachers. The need for caution in…

To assess the effect of contextual stimuli on learning, a study was conducted to see if providing instruction to students in one setting and testing them in yet another setting had an effect on their recall. Twenty-eight college students were randomly divided into two groups, and both were exposed to a multimedia instructional presentation. Then,…

This paper discusses some of the problems posed by external testing, including the social and racial complexities and the serious intellectual issues raised by the nature of a "standardized" examination. It is argued that these and other problems are likely to intensify to an unprecedented degree during the next several years as a result of…

Many problems in the areas of test interpretation and educational assessment are causing difficulties for educators. On one hand the public and legislators are requesting more state testing programs and assessment programs, while on the other, educators realize the problems concerning testing and test interpretation. Difficulties arise when tests…

The current status of state testing programs is assessed drawing primarily on information provided by the Educational Testing Service publication, "State Testing Programs, 1973 Revision." Increases in state operated programs are indicated and are probably due to an increase in federal money for testing purposes. Because of possible…

In the 1971-72 IMS tryout, the first step in processing data after a teacher tests her pupils was mailing of criterion exercises to the Forms Control Center. This simple step often added significant amounts to total processing turnaround time. Comparison of delays between testing and mailing are presented for districts, schools and teachers and…

Although the reader may wish to use the entire American College Testing (ACT) Program Profile for detailed study and comparison, this abstract is prepared to give a brief overview of the highlights contained in that report. The format presented in this abstract might also serve as a model for a brief profile of student characteristics at the local…

The Regents Testing Program of the University of Georgia system establishes minimal standards of literacy for graduation from any of the 30 institutions in the system. The testing covers language skills basic to all of the academic areas, and instructors in the composition courses must follow a prescribed syllabus that requires a certain number of…

More than half the States have passed accountability legislation. In many instances, this legislation has had a direct effect on the principal's role in his building and in his school district. This bibliography has been compiled to assist principals and other leaders in secondary education finding resources to clarify accountability concepts. The…

Proceedings of the first meeting of the State Advisory Committee for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Quality Education Assessment are provided. The proceedings are comprised of the following: Superintendent's Message; Charge to the Committee; The Plan for Assessing Educational Quality in Pennsylvania; What Will Quality Education Assessment Measure?;…