Standardized testing is ubiquitous in educational assessment, but questions have been raised about the extent to which these test scores accurately reflect students' genuine knowledge and skills. To more rigorously investigate this issue, the current study employed a within-subject experimental design to examine item format effects on primary…

This study offers evidence of the impact of language background on the performance of students enrolled in an accounting study unit. It aims to quantify the effects of language background on performance in essay questions, compared to calculation questions requiring an application of procedures. Marks were collected from 2850 students. The results…

External written examinations are commonly used for determining student academic achievement. The influence of question type and cognitive process on examination performance in senior-secondary physical education is unclear. A secondary data analysis of Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Physical Education examination data (2011; n = 9,323,…

Background: This study developed from observations of apparent achievement differences between male and female chemistry performances in a state university entrance examination. Male students performed more strongly than female students, especially in higher scores. Apart from the gender of the students, two other important factors that might…

The Assessment of Language Competence (ALC) certificates is an annual, international testing program developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research to test the listening and reading comprehension skills of lower to middle year levels of secondary school. The tests are developed for three levels in French, German, Italian and…

In May 2008, the National Assessment Program--Literary and Numeracy (NAPLAN) conducted nation-wide tests for reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. A national assessment program of this kind should provide the stimulus for macro-level (systemic) analytical studies and micro-level (individual school and/or class) analytical studies…

The information and assessment materials in these resources have been designed to assist teachers to gauge their own students' proficiency in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) literacy. By examining modules from the National Year 6 and Year 10 ICT Literacy Assessment teachers may be able to design similar tasks and to judge their…

Reports a study to compare the performance of Australian university students on chemistry questions delivered in two different formats: multiple choice and grid. Concluded that students encounter more difficulties with questions presented in the grid format and that grid questions demand a deeper understanding of the topic. (MDH)

Describes development of a test using slides and corresponding multiple-choice questions for second-year occupational therapy students in child studies course. Reasons for choosing the test format are discussed and an outline of test construction procedures is given. An evaluation of the test indicates problems encountered and benefits gained.…

This paper describes the use of the Rasch model to help implement computerized administration of the standard and advanced forms of Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM), to compare relative item difficulties, and to convert scores between the standard and advanced forms. The sample consisted of 95 girls and 95 boys in Australia. (SLD)

The first of several planned volumes of Free Response Test Items contains geology questions developed by the Assessment and Evaluation Unit of the New South Wales Department of Education. Two additional geology volumes and biology and chemistry volumes are in preparation. The questions in this volume were written and reviewed by practicing…

An Australian study examined the role of language background and gender in the assessment of native and non-native English-speaking university students enrolled in physics courses. Attention was given to differential performance and was analyzed in relation to test-item type and level of student communication skills. Implications for academic…

Issues in testing proficiency in languages for special purposes (LSP) are examined in the context of the development of an advanced oral test in Japanese for tour guides. The test, designed at an Australian university for use in the Australian tourism industry, was to be designed to evaluate both language proficiency and skills in appropriate…