Security procedures for the New Jersey High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) are discussed and evaluated. All New Jersey high school students are required to pass the HSPT, which was administered for the first time in 1984. Generally, security plans are designed to limit access to test questions prior to test administration and to prevent…

This manual contains guidelines for administering the Alberta, Canada, Achievement Testing Program in June 1987. The tests are administered to all students in grades 3, 6, 9, who have not been granted special exemption. The first section of the booklet includes information on the Achievement Test schedule, exemptions from the Achievement Testing…

Differential functioning of males and females on achievement test items was studied in a sample of 110,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12. First, item parameters and ability estimates for these parameters were obtained from LOGIST computer program runs for the entire group. Predicted performance for each item for each group was…

Inclusion of oral exams as a regular part of the school-based testing program has the advantages of providing motivation to learn oral skills, oral testing experience, additional opportunities for students to perform well, and improved relationships with students. However, logistical problems can be substantial. Adequate time for and efficient…

This handbook, intended for General Educational Development Test (GED) examiners, was designed to cover many of the issues and problems unique to the GED testing program in California. Six chapters are included: (1) testing center authorization and responsibilities; (2) testing center staff; (3) testing fees and materials; (4) test administration;…

This study focuses on standardized test administration in five elementary schools. The authors discuss how teachers affect test validity by altering standard test procedures in both planned and incidental ways. Each of the 16 voluntary teachers who participated in this study was observed in her/his classroom administering certain subtests of the…

THE CALIFORNIA MEXICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATION RESEARCH PROJECT INITIATED AN ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL DIRECTED TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE EDUCATION OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS IN WASCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. A SAMPLE OF THIRTEEN STUDENTS FROM EACH GRADE, PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH TWELVE, WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM STUDENTS WITH SPANISH SURNAMES…

The teacher of literature can help children become aware of and sensitive to the world around them--its beauty, good, and evil. In teaching poetry, the teacher must choose poems he likes, read them aloud to the students, lead class discussions about student reactions to poems, and allow students to write and to memorize poetry for enjoyment. The…

The next seven years will see important changes in the Washington Pre-college Testing Program for post-high school guidance. In the near future, the current cognitive emphasis of the program will be altered to include more attitudinal measures like a vocational interest inventory and an assessment of educational, employment, and life goals. In…

This is to be the first of two technical reports sharing the same title. It describes the testing procedures used by the Educational Diagnostic and Planning Center, outlining the manner of data gathering from objective, standardized instruments and other sources. It also describes the collation of data into meaningful descriptive summaries. The…

One of the most pressing needs in education today is the adaptation of instruction to individual characteristics and background. The Individually Prescribed Instruction project (IPI) of the University of Pittsburgh represents an investigation into the requirements for and the problems encountered in developing a system for individualizing…

The objective of the report was to emphasize the importance of classroom contingencies on academic achievement. A study is reported where an introductory psychology class of 253 subjects was divided into four groups. Using a Latin Square design an intraclass analysis of the effects of test frequency (weekly vs monthly) and contingency grading…

Reviews current approaches to testing oral competence at 16plus and suggests some less artificial alternatives. (AA)

Discusses and presents a summary outline of state activity in minimum competency testing as of March 15, 1978. (IRT)

This article discusses recent changes in formative and summative assessment in Scotland. The Examination system is being extended to cover all aspects of schooling for all pupils. There are extensive changes in the system, now called Scottish National Diploma, for those pursuing business, technical, or vocational courses. (LMO)