Louisana Educational Assessment Program for the 21st Century (LEAP 21) is an integral part of the Louisiana school and district accountability system passed by the state legislature and signed into law in 1997. The primary purposes of the accountability system are to raise expectations for achievement for all Louisiana public school students and…

Two different types of examinations are discussed and compared using correlation coefiicients obtained between the examinations and tests of intelligence and verbal reasoning. (DF)

Reports the development, field test and validation of an inventory designed to assess the scientific attitudes of high school students. (LC)

The value of comprehensive final examinations in medical school is addressed. It is argued that such testing should be discouraged when it involves repeating earlier content with new or reused test items. It is seen as valuable when it can be used to challenge the student to integrate earlier concepts in more sophisticated tasks. (JMD)

Presents two exam questions dealing with: (1) Huckel orbitals and energies of cyclic phosphonitrillic halides; and (2) pressure and the exploding beverage container. (CS)

Presents an undergraduate physical chemistry question and its acceptable solution. This question, presented to share exam questions with other teachers, shows the analogy between molecular kinetics and population dynamics. (HM)

Determines the extent to which aptitude alone contributes to academic performance with specific reference to performance in the introductory level physics practical. Establishes which specific aspects of aptitude are the most salient predictors of success in the physics practical. Attempts to establish whether familiarity with the language of…

Describes work in progress at SRI International in the Performance Assessment Links in Science (PALS) project, which is developing an online, standards-based, interactive resource bank of science performance assessments. Coupled with the development of the resource bank is a program of research on effective use of these resources. (SLD)

Studied the effects of linguistic simplification, a test accommodation designed for students of limited English proficiency (LEP), using data from the Delaware state science assessment program for grades 4 and 6. Findings for 11,306 non-LEP and 109 LEP students show that tests and items can be simplified linguistically without compromising score…

Investigates the marker-marker reliability of an examination for a third-year degree course in circuit theory. Reports that the coefficient of correlation between markers fell within the range 0.94 to 0.98. (YP)

Describes and compares physics students' understanding of concepts associated with electric and magnetic fields using interviews and written tests. Provides insights into a more detailed view of students' understanding of fields using the theoretical framework of the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome Taxonomy. (Author/MKR)

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)

Discusses the Third International Mathematics and Science Study including schools' involvement, international dimensions, tests' content, and value of TIMSS. (MKR)

Describes a proven three-step method used by teachers in Australia and the United States for developing assessment strategies to match existing science curricula. Includes sample assessments. (DDR)