Describes study that investigated the relationship between participation in a business simulation game and performance on a final exam in a principles of marketing course. Past research on business games is reviewed; the use of midterm exam performance level as a pretest variable is explained; and question classification is described. (44…

Traces assessment trends in British education since 1983. Discusses the examination system recommended by the Secondary Examinations Council, reviews the documentation of achievement by means other than examinations, and outlines the introduction of the National Curriculum. Suggests that trends have made objectives clearer to students and have…

Discusses teachers' responses to a survey on teacher competency testing. Describes Georgia's competency test and its results. Investigates the use of classroom performance as a test factor. Presents Georgia's test development process. (MLV)

Explores the development and application of syllabus and textbook design principles in the creation and use of an English-as-a-Second Language textbook that completely replaced the use of a structurally based course in Sri Lankan schools. Course components, the structural and functional syllabus, testing problems, and materials team training are…

This third article on National Assessment results discusses general achievement trends and changes in performance over time. Performance scales, national trends, current achievement, learning concepts and skills, problem solving, minorities, and gender are considered. (MNS)

Reports on research to develop a descriptive framework capable of revealing relevant linguistic features of aphasic speech. Spontaneous speech samples collected from aphasic and normal speakers in dyadic conversational settings and from monologic picture descriptions are transcribed; lexical, phrasal and causal elements are coded and quantified.…

A pharmacy student's suggestions for improving pharmaceutical education include increased emphasis on thinking skills in instruction and testing, incorporation of computer modules for independent study, a requirement that faculty periodically spend time in the field, review of laboratory experiments for relevance to practice, and improved…

Research suggests several types of test-anxious students. Techniques for lessening anxiety include teaching metacognitive and learning strategies, using cooperative learning activities, and creating a nonthreatening environment. A survey of 102 developmental reading college students indicated that teacher behavior during testing and pretest review…

Discusses research to determine whether the methodology used in English-as-a-Second-Language classes affected scores on the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills. Test results of students in a Los Angeles school district exposed to a comprehension-based approach were compared to those exposed to a grammar-based approach. (21 references) (CFM)

This investigation of 360 tests administered in English, mathematics, science, and social studies classes in grades 7 and 10 found that the most frequent question type was multiple choice, which poses particular problems for students with mild handicaps. The majority of questions were at the knowledge level, either recognition or production.…

A survey of 103 Canadian and U.S. medical schools found 93 accepted students with learning disabilities whereas 10 did not. Only two-thirds had support programs, and half lacked capacity to diagnose learning disabilities. Twenty-five did not know they could administer licensing examinations in a nonstandard manner. Nineteen had no senior…

Examined the influence of input and interactional modifications on second-language acquisition, assigning 41 learners of Japanese to 1 of 3 experimental groups: (1) unmodified input with no interaction; (2) premodified input with no interaction; and (3) unmodified input with the chance for negotiated input. Results indicated that comprehension was…

Discusses the process of developing a communicative reading/writing test based on authentic materials for university students in economics, political science, or law who are nonnative English speakers. (27 references) (CFM)

A study correlated the results of 25 medical school course examinations (largely multiple-choice), a standardized critical thinking inventory, undergraduate and medical school grade point averages, and medical college admissions test scores for 196 preclinical medical students. Findings suggest that objective multiple-choice examinations can at…

This study examined effects on test-taking performance of enhancing the examiner's speech by means of an inexpensive mild gain hard-wired assistive listening device. Subjects were 11 preschoolers with mild expressive language delays. Results revealed a significant reduction in test-taking time in the amplified condition. (Author/DB)