Discusses the problems of introducing diagnostic assessment into Scottish secondary schools in the light of existing assessment policies, teachers' assessment skills, assessment practices, and in view of internal and external influences which produce sociological problems. Problems that the diagnostic assessment itself can produce are then…

Reports a research study in Scottish secondary schools to create diagnostic tests for assessing historical skills--in particular in enquiry, interpretation, and reconstruction of historical materials. Examples of the diagnostic instruments used and the structure of a teaching module are given and favorable reactions from pupils and teachers are…

Describes a Scottish research project--Technique for Assessment of Practical Skills in Foundation Science (TAPS)--to identify practical laboratory skills that students should acquire and to produce methods of formative and summative evaluation of these skills. Examples of appropriate practical objectives, test items, and evaluation criteria are…