Two forms of a test of consumer competency, developed as valid, reliable, normed tests in consumer education, were given to Illinois public school students in grades 8-12. A comparison of mean scores indicated that students who had completed a consumer education course scored higher on both test forms than those who had not. Test results are shown…

Four problems related to how to best use testing and assessment to improve learning are discussed: (1) criterion- versus norm-referenced scores; (2) scaling; (3) communication and reporting of achievement; and (4) external versus school-based assessment. Comparisons of current practices in different countries, described in subsequent articles, are…

In response to J. J. Cannell's (1988) discussion of the reported "above average" achievement of the vast majority of public school systems nationwide, the nature of national norms is discussed. The public must be better informed about the interpretation of test results. (SLD)

Claims commonly held beliefs are 1) that English Education should reflect industrial needs, 2) that the role of literature should be diminished, and 3) that norm-referenced exams are an important evaluative measure. Warns that a national curriculum based on this current popular thought could be destructive to public education.(AH)

Normative data collected for the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test from children (ages 7-14) in urban and rural Alberta and for Inuit children in the Northwest Territories, Canada, were consistently below the Harris norms particularly for the Draw-a-Woman test. Alternate sets of Draw-a-Person norms are proposed for use with these groups. (Author/VW)

The 12 subtests of the Ball Aptitude Battery (BAB) listed in the administration manual were described. The reviewer believes this aptitude battery, designed for use with high school students and adults in job selection and placement, needs major improvements. It is suggested that the BAB be used solely for research purposes. (DWH)

The developer of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills scaling responds to Hoover's attacks on Thurstone and item response theory scales (TM 510 173). While agreeing that grade equivalent (GE) scores are presently the most appropriate developmental score for reporting elementary grade achievement tests, limitations and inconsistencies in the GE…

This paper describes how results on the ACT and SAT I can be compared through statistical linking procedures.

Purpose was to determine whether differences existed on certain variables for young children as seen by their mothers, and to construct an appropriate set of norms for use with children in the frequently diagnosed age range of seven to nine, with mothers as the informants. (Authors/CB)

A comprehensive review of test practices and recommendations for setting up a district testing program that will meet informational needs. (Editor)

A school board member explains test score interpretation, how to make sure teachers can interpret tests to parents, and how to release scores. (JM)

In assessing the validity of a norm-referenced model used in evaluating large-scale federal educational programs for disadvantaged children, gain estimates were shown as approximately equal with randomized control group model estimates compared by retrospective analyses of two databases. (Author/CM)

The article presents a review of test abuse and misuse with the Chicano. It reviews several measures undertaken to rectify abuses and misuses of tests but that have frequently been the source of new problems while not really ameliorating the basic condition, e.g., test translations, adding points, renorming test scores, and importing tests. (NQ)

An introductory analysis of the relative faults and merits of various testing systems suggests the need for teacher intercession in the standard testing procedure. (LH)

In order to use Norm referenced tests (NRT) in a meaningful way, test users have to understand the limitations of NRT to fully or accurately assess the test taker. NRT needs to be put into perspective with other information and integrated with an individual's experiences, needs, values, goals and objectives. (Author)