Offers responses from three teachers regarding how best to prepare students for standardized tests while maintaining meaningful instruction. (SR)

Examines the evolution of the test and measurement field and the growing edumetric trend as it relates to counselors' skill level. Discusses three competencies that counselors must use for adult assessments at personal and career intake: training in good test-use practices, awareness of the shift in education from psychometric to edumetric models,…

Presents the results of a survey by the Assessment and Examinations Committee to seek members' views on modular courses. The majority of the respondents felt that the administration of the course was reasonable, set dates were causing disruption in schools, feedback was too slow and was useful only to some, and the weighting for each test was a…

Presents a framework that takes as its starting point an analysis of test purpose, and then shows how purpose can be systematically related to test design. Argues that the way forward for vocabulary assessment is to take account of test purposes in the design and validation of tests, as well as considering an interactionalist approach to construct…

Examines the relationship between and the relevance of second language acquisition (SLA) and language testing (LT). The relevance of LT to SLA is examined based on written interviews with leading scholars in SLA who were asked about the relevance of LT to their work. (Author/VWL)

Considers how far a code of ethics makes language testing an open profession and notes the dangers of face validity and of hypocrisy. Discusses the need for a code of practice to provide detailed guidance to language testers with regard to their professional responsibilities. (Author/VWL)

We have been studying children's responses on key stages 2 and 3 national mathematics tests. We have been particularly interested in children's methods and misconceptions that provide teachers with insight into children's thinking so that they can take action to challenge and extend it. We have found that the common errors occur across both key…

Carries on from an article about the context for assessment of problem solving skills. Describes other forms of evidence in problem solving skill besides the options given in the previous article. Lists eight forms of evidence related more directly to the problem solving process. Analyzes the relationship among some of these suggested forms of…

Investigates the effects of text organization and response format on second language learners' performance on reading comprehension tests. Analyzes the results of reading comprehension tests that were delivered to Japanese University students. Found that text organization and test format had a significant impact on students' performance.…

Presents a collection of humorous, incorrect answers given over the years by college students taking tests in a course on French civilization. The paper emphasizes the importance of appreciating the humor within any situation. The answers are in response to questions asking students to identify people, places, dates, or events and to explain their…

Evaluates, with respect to the quality of evidence offered in support of knowledge claims, the relationship between culture and test session behavior (TSB) on group and individual tests of intelligence and/or achievement. Identifies four relevant categories in the literature. Reviews key literature from the speculative theories and studies of…

Tests the validity of scores on the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI) using confirmatory factor analysis and correlations. Results show partial support for construct validity. An item analysis was performed to identify problematic items. Discusses implications for racial identity research. (Contains 54 references and 2 tables.)…

In four experiments the behavioral consequences of an involuntary attentional distraction concerning memory performance was investigated. The working memory model of Cowan (1995) predicts a performance deficit for memory representations that are held in an active state when the focus of attention is distracted by a change in physical properties.…

Purpose: This study explores the development and testing of an instrument to measure long-term-care planning behavior. Design and Methods: Researchers operationalized proposed constructs and response styles as statements in a questionnaire. A telephone survey involved 150 randomly selected residents of Miami-Dade County, Florida who were between…

This study examined learned helplessness and its effect on test taking. Students were given one of two tests; the first began with extremely difficult questions and the other started with easy questions. The researchers hypothesized that those who took the test beginning with difficult questions would become easily frustrated and possibly doubt…