Basic precepts for test development are described and explained as they are presented in measurement textbooks commonly used in the fields of education and psychology. The five building blocks discussed as the foundation of well-constructed tests are: (1) specification of purpose; (2) standard conditions; (3) consistency; (4) validity; and (5)…

This guide, primarily intended for U.S. university students who, with the aid of a study abroad adviser, wish to enroll into a Spanish university as part of a U.S. undergraduate degree program, provides information on various aspects of the system of higher education in Spain. Topics covered include: selection of the Spanish university; life and…

Evaluative criteria implicit in written comments on student writing can embody a definition of text which leads students to see text as superficial and formal instead of deep and meaningful. Students develop their perceptions of professors' values from the cues they receive via comments. A major problem, especially among faculty from different…

A guide is presented for students on the policies and practices of public and private New York colleges and universities in regard to granting credit, course waiver, or advanced standing to those who pass the College Proficiency Examinations (CPEs) and the Regents External Degree Examinations (REDEs). A chart indicates, for each institution and…

The traditional system of letter grades discourages college-bound students from taking difficult courses. Many colleges look closely at an applicant's grade point average (GPA). When a student's GPA is computed, a grade from an easy course carries as much weight as a grade from a difficult course. Since a student can achieve a higher grade with…

Written descriptions of student accomplishments should be required to supplement letter grades.

Three examinations administered to medical students were analyzed to determine differences among severities of judges' assessments and among grading periods. The examinations included essay, clinical, and oral forms of the tests. Twelve judges graded the three essays for 32 examinees during a 4-day grading session, which was divided into eight…

This paper inquires into the relationship between the criterion variable of teacher effectiveness and the independent variables of the score on the teacher evaluation procedure and the teacher demographic variables of race, sex, level of teacher certification, area of teacher certification, and years of teaching experience. The ultimate goal of…

These two brochures contain the philosophy and principles of evaluating and reporting pupil achievement (including a definition of the regular marking system) adopted by the Wichita Public Schools. Evaluating and reporting are viewed as a single process which is an integral part of the teaching/learning process. Communication with pupils and…

Four methods of individualized instruction are described and introduced, and their similarities and differences are reviewed in terms of effectiveness, grading, lectures, mastery, pacing, theoretical base, and unit size. The methods described are (1) audio-tutorial, developed by S. N. Postlethwait, an instructional system that allows students to…

This paper provides principles which can be used to mark mathematics papers in secondary schools. Sections included are: (1) "Drafting the Marking Scheme" (describing 15 general considerations); (2) "Calculations" (listing 16 grading principles on computation papers); (3) "Graphs" (providing four guidelines on graph papers); (4) "Constructions"…

Intended for teachers, this bibliography lists 3 books and 16 journal articles about evaluating writing. The works cover such aspects as the effects of praise and blame on student writing, the evaluation of composition without using grades, an evaluation system that promotes writing, procedures for evaluating writing, holistic reading in the…

In this article a method to improve sentence writing ability called sentence combining is explained. The potential effects of sentence combining are related and relevant research summarized. In addition, how to introduce sentence combining practice to a class, key instructional components including oral practice and peer assistance, sources of…

Competency-based curriculum (CBC) is as old as learning itself, in theory. In practice, its applications have been limited. It came of age in 1968, moving from obscurity to visibility. A source of some discussion is the difference between CBC and experience- or knowledge-based learning, and between CBC and performance based education. The…

This journal is devoted to the art of teaching in the field of speech communication. Articles collected in this issue address topics in the development of the basic speech communication course and include the following titles: "Concept Speech Assignment,""The Circle Game: A Teaching Device for the Concept of Ethos,""To Hear Ourselves As Others…