This software product makes the manipulation of the more than 3000 most commonly used words in the English language easy to select and manipulate into various activities for elementary and middle school students. Users of the program have a variety of options: the program can automatically select words based on their age/grade level, frequency of…

Distinctions were made between three classes of statistical linkage: equivalence, concordance, and prediction. These distinctions were based on rational content considerations and empirical statistical relationships. A large database involving SAT I and ACT scores was used to determine which type of linkage was best suited for different scores and…

Focuses on the appropriate use of tests to evaluate a program according to the overall goals, approaches, and specific instructional contents of that particular program. The article emphasizes that often test results are viewed as indicators of the success or failure of a program without considering whether the aims of that program and the…

Summarizes research supporting current beliefs in testing, identifies good assessment qualities, and reviews the current knowledge of test design. Standardized tests negatively affect academic program quality. Alternative assessments must be judged by their validity, reliability, consequences, fairness, generalizability, cognitive complexity,…

After noting limited interest in the teaching and/or testing of paralinguistic features of spoken English, this article describes a test that includes a number of items uttered differently, which students are asked to interpret. Suggestions are offered regarding test administration, test items, and student evaluation. (five references) (LB)

Survey of 43 British secondary teachers showed that the National Curriculum positively influenced teaching methods, encouraging greater variety in delivery and more active learning. Concern was expressed that these practices may be hindered if national assessment tests are narrow in nature and content. (SK)

Observes that emphasis on educational accountability in visual arts has led to the acceptance of various assessment tools. Describes the format and content of existing state visual arts achievement tests and clarifies what is being done nationally in assessment through the use of state art achievement tests. (DSK)

Examined administration method (standard written administration versus oral administration by an examiner) as a variable influencing children's self-report test scores. Subjects included 139 students in grades 3-6, randomly assigned to an administration condition. Results suggest that method of administration did not affect test performance. (JBJ)

The influence of judges' knowledge on standard setting for competency tests was studied with 17 judges who took an economics teacher certification test while setting competency standards using the Angoff procedure. Judges tended to set higher standards for items they answered correctly and lower standards for items they answered incorrectly. (SLD)

Explores the content of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and describes similarities between the ITBS and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) standards. Addresses three NCSS standards and how each may be represented on a standardized test. Provides eight confidence-boosting principles. (CMK)

Discusses research into the effect of background knowledge on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) tests and discusses EAP tests in which the content of at least some of the test components is related to students' fields of academic study. Suggests that for international EAP tests, English for specific academic purposes testing be abandoned.…

In this article, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program of the College Board is described. It discusses the quality and standards for AP classes and examines the success of AP students, AP Scholar Awards, and resources for information on the AP program. A list of AP subjects and examinations is provided. (Contains references.) (CR)

This study investigated topic features and the effect of topic variation on performance in a test designed to assess the language skills of international teaching assistants in chemistry. Results suggest a relationship between topic of input (as defined by the topic features of concepts, math, and calculations) and test scores. (Author/MSE)

The task inventory approach is commonly used in job analysis for establishing content validity evidence supporting the use and interpretation of licensure and certification examinations. Although the results of a task inventory survey provide job task-related information that can be used as a reliable and valid source for test development, it is…

As testing moves from paper-and-pencil administration toward computerized administration, how to present tests on a computer screen becomes an important concern. Of particular concern are tests that contain necessary information that cannot be displayed on screen all at once for an item. Ideally, the method of presentation should not interfere…