Takes a critical look at the Assessment of Performance Unit's proposals for monitoring attainment in mathematics. (Editor)

In a series of experiments, it was found that asking questions about information in a prose sequence while it is being presented can affect the degree to which that prose material is stored as a unitized whole, and that this in turn will affect how well that prose is remembered. (Editor)

Attempts to relate the spelling errors of secondary school students to visual and auditory sequential memory, intelligence, reading, and writing speed. The relation of spelling ability to the frequency and regularity of words is also examined. (Author/RK)

Discusses the difficulties that arise when tests designed for one purpose are used for another. Points out that tests reflect the characteristics of the institutions that use them and emphasizes the need for more careful design of actual instructional programs as well as of the tests intended to assess learning. (Author/GC)

Examines possible relationships between the analytic/global dimension of cognitive style, as defined by Davis and Klausmeier (1970) and measured by the Children's Embedded Figures Test (CEFT), and two modes of instruction varying in the level of written guidance (Intermediate and Maximal) provided the learner. (Author/RK)

Educational innovations are frequently undertaken with little or no planning. There are occasions, however, when it is possible to define educational problems with some precision and to plan changes which will "solve" these problems. Here is a report on such a case in the teaching of introductory anthropology at a large land-grant university.…

This discussion of proposed legislation in Congress regarding a national, standardized "Test for Academic Excellence" considers both its pros (lack of standards, incentives for excellence) and its cons (curriculum variations, funding, scoring). (CB)

Considers the impact of testing on art education if it is conducted as a means to legitimate art studies. Concludes that some new art programs may be buying into a system that has produced an educational structure which alienates young people. Concludes that testing will contribute to lower levels of cognition. (GEA)

Reports the results of two experiments which evaluated the effectiveness of the cloze test as a method for detecting plagiarism. In both studies, the cloze performance of students was significantly better in nonplagiarizing than plagiarizing situations. Concludes that when used with caution, the cloze procedure appears to be potentially helpful in…

The effect on test scores of changing answers to multiple-choice questions was studied and compared to earlier research. The current setting was a nationally administered, in-training, specialty examination for medical residents in obstetrics and gynecology. Both low and high scorers improved their scores when they changed answers. (SW)

Argues that because widely used multiple choice tests do not measure more complex cognitive skills, such skills are not taught. Suggests that greater costs of tests in other formats can be justified by their value for instruction--to encourage teaching of higher level cognitive skills and provide practice with feedback. (CMG)

Presents an account of history teaching and examining in middle class English schools in the second half of the nineteenth century through review of the records of the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations. For journal availability, see SO 505 237. (Author/DB)

"Miracle" is a word you would expect to hear from people familiar with the Assumption Catholic School story--but don?t wait for it. More likely you will hear a name: Mary Anne Stanton. In just more than five years, Stanton has led Assumption and 12 other Catholic schools from high-poverty Washington, D.C. neighborhoods into a…

This report presents the findings of a study conducted to explore the feasibility of developing and delivering an assessment of information and communication technology (ICT) literacy for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The study was conducted at the request of an expert panel convened by Network A and was funded in…