This study sought to determine how students would describe their group-only cooperative testing experiences in terms of key elements of cooperative learning often cited in the literature. Written comments of 159 graduate students were analyzed and 26 related categories of comments were derived from 495 statements of students enrolled in two…

A technique is described for reducing the incidence of cheating on multiple choice exams. One form of the test is used and each item is assigned multiple numbers. Depending upon the instructions given to the class, some students will use the first of each pair of numbers to determine where to place their responses on a separate answer sheet, while…

Discusses answer justification, a technique that allows students to convert multiple-choice items perceived to be "tricky" into short-answer essay questions. Convincing justifications earn students credit for missed items. The procedure is reported to be easy to administer and very popular among students. (Author/GEA)

Describes and evaluates a "controlled assessment procedure" as a holistic approach to avoiding problems of administering and evaluating traditional exams. Key characteristics include: the question is known well in advance and is broad and open-ended, students are encouraged to respond in any self-selected written format, and the rationale and…

The format of the final examinations in Conservative Dentistry in the Dental Schools of Great Britain and Ireland was investigated by means of a questionnaire sent to each of the dental schools in each country. Results are reported and the value of different parts of the examinations are discussed. (Author/RH)

A University of Adelaide (Australia) study investigated the effect of administering identical stations to different classes over a 12-year period within the objective structured clinical examination component of a final-year medical school examination. Repeat administrations correlated with improved student performance over time. (Author/MSE)

Analysis of literature on oral assessment in college instruction identified six dimensions: primary content type; interaction between examiner and learner; authenticity of assessment task; structure of assessment task; examiner; and orality (extent to which knowledge is tested orally). These help in understanding the nature of oral assessment and…

The fact sheet focuses on considerations when testing adaptations are needed, provides some facts about disability, and identifies a variety of adaptations of testing procedures which have been developed and successfully used in schools, vocational training programs, and on college campuses. Testing adaptations are discussed in terms of disability…

Preliminary findings concerning crib card examinations, in which students bring their own notes for use during testing, show that while crib card test results were similar to those from traditional examinations, students' anxiety was reduced, and testing time was saved, claims that the cards may enhance learning were not substantiated. (MSE)

The effects of examination format and previous experience with microcomputers on the test scores of 96 undergraduate students were investigated. Results indicated no significant differences in the scores obtained on the two types of test administration (microcomputer and traditional paper and pencil). Computer experience was not an important…

Complex multiple choice (CMC) items are frequently used to test knowledge about repetitive information. In two independent comparisons, performance on the CMC items surpassed that of the multiple true-false clusters. Data indicate that performance on CMC items is inflated, and distractors on CMC items fail to prevent guessing. (Author/PN)

Suggests a testing format suitable for thermodynamics, including questions and correct answers. Also offers a test question and an acceptable solution focusing on the elimination of certain steps in the glycolytic pathway. (SK)

A study examined a paper-based method of testing in a clinical biochemistry course, part of a new modular, systems-oriented medical curriculum at the University of Otago (New Zealand). The method of assessment was found easy to administer, and students valued the quizzes as a stimulus to study and as feedback. (Author/MSE)

Examined equivalence of mode of administration of the Career Decision-Making System, comparing paper-and-pencil version and computer-based version. Findings from 61 undergraduate students indicated that the computer-based version was significantly more reliable than paper-and-pencil version and was generally equivalent in other respects.…

College undergraduates (n=38) were administered identical multiple choice tests with randomly presented answer-sheets numbered either vertically or horizontally. Of the originally-scheduled four tests during the semester, tests one and three were retested with entirely different test questions, also multiple choice, resulting in scores from tests,…