Discusses the need to reorganize the curriculum and testing procedures in English high schools to meet student and community needs. Topics discussed include allowing students to select major and minor courses of study, vocational education, screening functions of examinations, and employment projections. (DB)

Grade related contingencies such as tests resulted in high student attendance in class, but frequent quizzing resulted in lower attendance at nontest sessions. (Editor)

Student placement in an initial mathematics course was investigated using either a programed test administered by a computer or a traditional test administered in a conventional manner. The former method was favored. (MP)

Two experiments investigated the amount and loci of multiple-choice examination answer copying as related to the spacing of students and the use of alternate test forms. (RC)

The components of a system for practical skills assessment or trade testing is discussed. The system, called Progressive Assessment Testing (PAT), is used in the normal workshop situation and enables the employer to identify and correct weaknesses in performance at the appropriate point in the training process. (Author/EC)

Some contemporary trends in social and clinical psychology suggest that individual differences in imaging abilities may become increasingly important. Outlines some of the conceptual and methodological problems that must be clarified if productive research is to be undertaken and reports results of three studies designed to isolate tests which…

Describes procedures implemented by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the development of national versions of the assessment instruments in all instruction languages used in the participating countries. Presents data that provide empirical information on the effectiveness of these procedures. (VWL)

Ethical career assessment of female clients requires global gender sensitivity as well as knowledge of gender issues in the areas of individual differences and career choice process. Whether quantitative or qualitative, informal or formal, assessments and interpretations should be gender sensitive for both men and women. (Contains 79 references.)…

Introduces a framework for systematizing the design of language performance assessments and explicating the role of tasks within them. Their design outlines fundamental components that must be rationalized and operationalized in order for performance assessment to produce coherent evidence of examinees' abilities. (Author/VWL)

This article addresses the health-related physical fitness assessment of K-two children by providing the elementary physical education specialist with strategies for planning and organizing an educational, positive, and efficient testing environment. (IAH)

A court decision that a pioneering New York law illegally preempted federal law by forcing publication of standardized test material protected by federal copyright could undermine greater disclosure in standardized testing, but quick changes in testing practice are not expected. (MSE)

Explores the two major pieces of federal legislation that make up the foundation for a national testing initiative: Goals 2000 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Discusses the content of each of the legislative initiatives, how they interrelate, and who supports them. Suggests that the national testing movement has metamorphosed into…

This simulation study considered the effects on statistical measures of test dimensionality that result from systematic sampling variation in both a single- and a double-trait assessment model. Results suggest that there are distinct psychological and psychometric states of test dimensionality, and that psychometric unidimensionality may be…

The results of testing 14 hearing children who learned American Sign Language as preschoolers show that these bimodal, bilingual youngsters achieve significantly higher scores than average on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and suggest knowing a sign language may have a positive influence on a hearing child's acquisition of English. (11…

Suggests reasons for the lack of change in biochemistry courses and proposes mechanisms to enhance change. Advocates a problem-solving approach using nontraditional questions on examinations. Provides examples of how traditional questions can be rewritten to reflect a problem-solving approach. (PR)