Proposes a system of achievement testing for all U.S. students rather than just those who are college bound. Criticizes present achievement testing as a patchwork system that fails to provide parents with information about how much their children are learning in comparison to others. Provides a sampling of national achievement test questions from…

Analyzes the uses that can be made from test data and the influences such data can have on communication with communities, in the evaluation of school's effectiveness, and student's placement. (Author/RK)

Lists comprehensive guides, catalogs, and printed and online databases for use by individuals who do not have an extensive background in tests and measurement. The guides provide lists of tests for specific subject areas, grade levels, and purposes. The article includes availability information for resources. (SM)

On March 1, 1971, Arkansas State University publicly announced its policy on credit-by-examination through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Preceding this announcement institutional research was conducted to determine appropriate cut-off scores for awarding credit on the CLEP General Examinations and certain subject examinations. This…

The relationship between total scores and interrelationships among certain similarly named subtests of the Metropolitan and Stanford Achievement Tests are considered. The correlation of total scores for the two batteries was .89, indicating that the batteries measure essentially the same things. If one were interested in selecting a battery to…

The challenge of student evaluation in the area of vocational and technical education is viewed by the author as being highly related to the problem of measurement. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the instruments currently used to measure student attainments and/or attitudes. Following a discussion of general aspects (amount of…

This paper describes the experience of the Clemson University (South Carolina) faculty in choosing and administering a commercially available standardized test to assess general education at that institution. The paper emphasizes the importance of faculty involvement in the assessment of general education and its impact on the success of the…

The primary purpose of this leaflet is to assist the teacher of English in building good achievement tests, with special attention to planning and construction. Subjects covered are general considerations for planning a test, making a blueprint for the test, basic characteristics of effective tests and test questions, selecting the proper test…

It is required by Michigan Public Act 294 that local school districts having an enrollment of 20 or more students of limited English-speaking ability establish and operate bilingual instruction programs, and that the State Board of Education approve a testing mechanism suitable for evaluating the proficiency in English language skills of students…

Based on a review of standardized tests and competency assessment instruments, recommendations are made for identifying and selecting standardized tests to help secondary vocational instructors to develop students' basic skills. Chapter 1 focuses on identifying diagnostic tests of basic skills in reading, mathematics, and communication. It…

Information about student achievement outcomes is presented, and tests for each outcome area are described. The tests are categorized according to knowledge objectives, skill objectives, and intellectual disposition. Knowledge objectives include comprehension of facts and principles within a particular discipline (specialized knowledge) or a broad…

This paper presents empirical data concerning the use of a cloze test as a measure of second language proficiency. Grade four students in their fifth year of a French immersion program were tested using both English and French cloze tests. Correlations between the cloze test and other language achievement measures were calculated for both…

The difficulty of determining if a student's learning difficulties are the results of learning disabilities or issues related to cultural and linguistic diversity (CLD), often causes problems when individuals are referred for a learning disability assessment. This article discusses the many issues related to assessment of adults in community…

This manual is intended to assist assessment and teaching personnel in assessing and developing instructional plans for special needs students from early school to independent living and employment. It contains 10 chapters. The following topics are discussed in the first nine chapters: the purpose of career assessment; ethical issues…

This sourcebook is a resource guide to help teachers, evaluation specialists, district coordinators, and supervisors in locating and selecting instruments to evaluate various aspects of social studies programs from kindergarten through grade 12. The bulk of the sourcebook comprises analyses of 291 evaluation instruments applicable to social…