The first of three sequels to the booklet "Student Assessment," this booklet begins by describing and providing examples of four different forms that objective questions can take: (1) conventional multiple choice questions; (2) true/false questions; (3) assertion/reason items; and (4) matching items. Guidance is offered on how to decide which type…

The third of three sequels to the booklet "Student Assessment," this booklet begins by describing and giving examples of three forms that essay-type questions can take: (1) unstructured-essay questions; (2) structured-essay questions; and (3) short-notes questions. Guidelines are then provided for deciding which type of question to use in a given…

This document, prepared as a conference handout, consists of a description of the revised General Educational Development (GED) Tests scheduled for introduction in 1988 and a series of recommendations concerning the content of future GED tests, which were formulated by a committee appointed by the Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials…

Upon learning that a form of the Sequential Tests of Educational Progress was incorrectly distributed to an unidentified number of high school students along with an answer sheet pregridded with an alternate test form, the Austin Independent School District performed the following research analyses: (1) scored the tests using the key for each…

Over the years many criticisms have been offered against the multiple choice test format. Ambiguous, and emphasizing isolated information, they are also the most difficult objective tests to construct. Over-interpretation is a danger of multiple choice examinations with students picking subtle answers the test makers consider incorrect. Yet, the…

This study attempts to establish the ability of a panel of five judges with varied mathematics background to distinguish between two types of mathematical tests by separating their component items when they are presented in a mixed pool of aptitude and achievement tests. Typically, the two tests show high correlation. The judges showed about 70%…

The overall purpose of this research was to compare a maximum likelihood based tailored testing procedure to a Bayesian tailored testing procedure. The results indicated that both tailored testing procedures produced equally reliable ability estimates. Also an analysis of test length indicated that reasonable ability estimates could be obtained…

The effect on students' scores of different item formats used in standardized reading achievement tests was investigated. Thirty-one bilingual Mexican-American second grade students were given a phonics test using four different formats derived from three standardized reading achievement tests. The formats sampled identical content. A two-way…

Applied performance tests (APTs) are defined as tests designed to measure performance, in an actual or simulated setting, of tasks significant to a student's life outside the school or significant to adult life. A number of examples are presented to illustrate which skills may be classified as applied performance (such as file a tax return or…

An instrument which can be used to measure the school library/media ability of students in grades 4-12 was developed in Ohio, using 2,670 students from rural, suburban, and urban settings. The test covers five broad areas: (1) how things are organized, (2) the skills needed to select appropriate resources, (3) the skills needed to use each…

Compares test formats that may be used to measure student achievement levels in library media skills, including strengths and weaknesses of test items, ability levels required to answer items, and possible modifications to items. Different testing methods are also discussed. (CLB)

Each of the many methods or approaches to assessing student learning is based on a clear understanding of validity, reliability, course objectives, the advantages and disadvantages of different evaluation formats, and the ways assessment data will be used to improve instruction. (Author/MSE)

Answer keys for physician and teacher licensing examinations were studied. The impact of variability on total errors of measurement was examined for answer keys constructed using the aggregate method. Results indicated that, in some cases, scorers contributed to a sizable reduction in measurement error. (Author/GDC)

A mental multiplication test, containing items written in Dutch, Spanish, and Roman numerals was administered to 286 Dutch students. Further instruction was given in either Spanish or Roman, and a subtest combining languages was given. The iterative logit method was found to be useful in detecting biased test items. (GDC)

Tips on improving student test scores fall into two categories: format training and environmental conditions. Environmental conditions include notifying parents of the test, emphasizing the importance of the test, and giving the test in familiar surroundings. Format training includes explaining multiple-choice options and answer sheets. (MLF)