The study was designed to develop a greater understanding of how test preparation practices/activities have changed in a state with an established testing program that has recently begun to use test scores for school-level accountability purposes. Teachers within 24 public high schools completed a questionnaire related to the use of test…

This quantitative analysis of published results on the effect of coaching on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores differs from previous studies by separating out the within-study sampling error from the variation in coaching effectiveness. The authors conclude that the size of the positive effect seems too small to be practically important. (Author/SK)

Shows how to test the hypothesis that a nonnested model fits a set of predictors when modeling multiple effect sizes in meta-analysis. Illustrates the procedure using data from previous studies of the effectiveness of coaching on performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. (SLD)

Outlines the benefits of test taking skills, especially for low ability and disadvantaged students, and suggests that achievement tests provide valid assessments only of students with the requisite test taking skills. Offers 13 strategies for teachers to prepare students for testing. Contains 19 references. (SV)

Describes two short lessons on individual objectives (main idea and fact/opinion) to prepare 10th graders for the Spring exit test. (SR)

The notion of washback, that testing influences teaching, is explored and a series of possible hypotheses are advanced. The empirical research in general education and in language education is reviewed to determine whether washback actually exists, how it can be measured, and what accounts for its form. Proposals for future research are suggested.…

One major impediment to raising test scores is that the tests simply cover more than a teacher can practically teach during the entire school year--much less during the eight and a half months before the testing weeks. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize the concepts and standards that teachers will cover within their classroom curricula.…

"Naturalization Test Redesign Project: Civics Item Selection Analysis" provides an overview of the development of content items for the U.S. history and government (civics) portion of the redesigned naturalization test. This document also reviews the process used to gather and analyze data from multiple studies to determine which civics…

This action research project was designed to maximize learning for all students by addressing different learning styles and implementing various strategies. The students in the targeted school exhibited difficulty in experiencing academic success while exposed to conventional teaching strategies. The two target schools consisted of an intermediate…

College-bound students in Japan undergo a process of intense preparation known as "examination hell." An extreme manifestation of "examination hell" is the "ronin" phenomenon. Typically 30% of students choose the "ronin" option under which they spend years in addition to high school preparing for the next…

Specific and detailed instructions to implement an environmental engineering approach to the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject Test for Psychology are outlined. Focus is on helping students prepare for this test. Some universities use the GRE as a measure of achievement and aptitude and as a criterion test. In truth, such a test does not…

Whether coaching for standardized admission tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is effective was investigated. The Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission evaluated the effectiveness of two commercial coaching schools that offered preparation courses for the SAT. The researchers concluded that one of the two…

Piedmont High School is a small high school in rural Alabama, which serves a primarily white population and has a high dropout rate. PLATO computerized instruction has been used by almost 200 skill-deficient students, and 4 teachers have used it. After using PLATO, Piedmonts struggling students are much more likely to pass the Alabama High School…

This book is designed to help the adult learner overcome test anxiety and become an effective test taker. A survey to determine what the reader knows about test formats is followed by facts on many types of tests, help with real-world problems in test taking, reviews of writing skills for essay tests, and practice test questions. Some resources,…

Three computer software packages from Krell, Borg-Warner, and Edu-ware are reviewed in terms of their improving users' vocabulary, verbal analogy, and mathematical skills in preparation for the SATs. Students benefitting most are those who know the subject but do poorly on tests. (MBR)