Educational Testing Service's (ETS) international testing of student achievement (1988) was supported by politicians seeking simple answers, but results were badly flawed and pointless. ETS emphasized global comparisons among countries on a single achievement scale, using an arbitrary formula heavily weighted toward computation; actual questions…

Notes problems with the current emphasis on summative evaluation of student progress and argues that a formative approach would be more beneficial for students and teachers, offering both groups greater understanding of the learning taking place. Discusses practicalities of adopting formative evaluation procedures, e.g., teacher training, computer…