Discusses strategies to construct multiple-choice exams such that they can offer insight into the thought processes of the physics student. Discusses test evaluation basics and some writing hints. (JRH)

Protocols (n=149) of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised that were completed by 22 graduate students were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of practice administrations in developing examiner competence. Even completing 10 administrations did not reduce errors students made, suggesting that careful training is required. (SLD)

Examines the testing culture and the assessment culture in the context of calls for large-scale, national tests and from an anthropological model. Depicts the roles, rules, and rituals of each culture. Suggests that the cultural roles, rules, and rituals for the 21st century demand a culture of assessment rather than a culture of testing. (RS)

Suggests that both portfolio and performance-based assessment can be implemented in ways that retain vestiges of standardized testing. Compares aspects of standardized testing to aspects of portfolio and performance-based evaluation. Discusses responsibility to those assessed. (RS)

Misunderstandings in assessing career development are often a reflection of basic underlying differences in perspective. This article illustrates how the perspectives of field orientation, time frame, and goal setting influence such assessment. With this information, implications for practice and suggestions regarding possibilities for a…

The study reported here investigated the effects of using props to illustrate the meaning of sentences in a syntactic awareness task in which subjects were required to correct ungrammatical sentences. Children scored significantly higher in the props condition though the proportion of meaning-changing errors to total errors was not significantly…

Discusses the purpose of a French-as-a-Second-Language (FSL) placement test designed for students enrolling in FSL at the postsecondary level. The test measures proficiency level in French and consists of three parts: comprehension of a short paragraph, selection of the appropriate statement in a situation, and a fill-in-the-gap part. (JL)

Reviews research that sheds light on the comparability of Oral Proficiency Interview and the Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview. Suggestions are provided for further research. (16 references) (VWL)

Examines the role of differentiated papers in Mode One Business Studies tests in promoting the goals of the United Kingdom's General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Explores the matching of candidates to papers, targeting papers, the nature of questions asked, and grading. Concludes that the technique allows students to advance through…

Discusses two approaches to data analysis in pretest-posttest research designs in which researcher has not formed groups based on pretest or used pretest information in assigning participants to groups, thus ruling out two-way analysis of variance. Describes use of repeated-measures analysis of variance and two-group analysis of covariance in…

Describes a method for developing a paper-and-pencil test to evaluate students' understanding of the mole concept in chemistry. (ZWH)

Researchers examined the effects of student-generated knowledge maps as a learning strategy. Eighty-one college students learned to make knowledge maps then participated in in-class and out-of-class testing sessions. Mapping positively affected their performance on recognition and recall tests, positive effects which were maintained. (SM)

Discusses the need for developing accurate assessment methods and establishing a common standard for all students through a voluntary national examination system. School-based management programs and models of excellence will not affect the vast majority of schools. States and districts must make strategic moves and comprehensive policy changes…

Tested Bugen's Coping with Death Scale. Individuals who had written wills, planned estates and funerals, and signed organ donor cards scored higher on the Coping with Death Scale. Because Coping with Death scores were more consistently different in those who prepared for death, this scale may help in efforts to predict those who will engage in…

Investigates the construct validity of measures designed to assess topical knowledge. Interviews students about their knowledge of four topics and administers a recognition test. Finds no strong correlation between the two. Concludes that recognition measures assess a specific body of information, whereas interviews open a broader window on a…