Concern has been growing about the general preparedness of students who enter Ontario universities following completion of Year 5. Inconsistency in grading, fewer required courses at the secondary level, and lack of comparability in student evaluations are problems which may cause universities to reinstate entrance examinations. (Author/HLM)

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)

Results indicate that subjects scored better when tested by an experimenter of the opposite sex and also that there is some tendency for experimenters to receive scores from their subjects in accordance with their expectations of the subject's performance. (JD)

Argues that "we are moving toward the notion that the national policy-oriented evaluation may not ask a useful question--useful neither to the national policy-maker nor to the educator. On the other hand, the research question which seeks to understand the teaching/learning process (rather than to evaluate a program) may ultimately be the most…

Three case studies illustrate problems in the identification of gifted students when tests are not used appropriately. The paper concludes that testing must occur within the context of intensive observations of and discussions with the child and family. The importance of all teachers receiving training in gifted education is stressed. (DB)

This study used the Assessment Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to evaluate the appropriateness and adequacy of selected standardized tests of mathematics achievement as they pertain to students with disabilities. Problems with content validity included inadequate representation of content domains, inappropriate…

Testing with personal probabilities eliminates guessing whether the subjects are well calibrated. A probability testing study with 47 Dutch elementary school children who used an interactive computer program shows that even 11-year-olds can estimate their personal probabilities correctly. (SLD)

This article discusses the structure of a committee that evaluates assessments for students with visual impairments and the process by which the committee arrives at its recommendations to test developers and administrators. Concerns and preferred practices that have been revealed by the committee's two years of experience are discussed. (CR)

Investigates potential problems with training native speaker interlocutors to carry out a series of oral interactions with a candidate for overseas employment with the Australian government. Findings reveal the effects of interlocutor variables and audiotape quality on ratings. Evaluates the overall feasibility of the procedure and examines…

Self-regulation of agencies administering professional licensing and certification tests is questioned on social and legal grounds. Topics include test validity concerns of applicants, extension of "truth in testing" legislation, explicitness of standards, and whether construct validity should be the primary requirement for selecting a…

The major response sets that can adversely affect the validity and usefulness of trait scales are briefly described. Using data from 228 college students, representative response set measures were then used to assess the degree to which scores on 4 of the Chapman Scales are determined by content-irrelevant factors. (TJH)

Examines competency testing reforms in a state education agency and a local school district. Addresses linkages among reform impetus, implementation, and consequences in both sites. Identifies general issues in high stakes testing reform and highlights evaluation's role in mediating complex political, technical, and social issues. Includes 13…

Rather than an unbiased accumulation of evidence, the work argues the authors' position, which includes advocating the use of achievement tests in the college admissions process. Arguments against use of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are primarily based on analyses of data from the National Longitudinal Study of 1972. (SLD)

The effect on examinee performance of the rule that multiple-choice (MC) test items require the acceptance of 1 choice was examined for 106 dental students presented with choices in MC and multiple true-false formats. MC items force examinees to select one choice, which causes artificial acceptance of correct/incorrect choices. (SLD)

Discusses the problems associated with the assessment of art and design. Identifies criterion-referenced assessment practices within the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) program as central to the development of a system of examination which is more fair to participants. (KO)