This report contains the results from the first administration of the fourth and sixth grade science and social studies portions of the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP). As such, they are an important part of the state's efforts to educate all students to a higher level. Science and social studies data for grades 4 and 6 are summarized…

The construct validity of the New Standards middle school Science Reference Examination was studied focusing on evidence related to the internal and external structure of the assessment, the reliability of the assessment scores, and the generalizability of the assessment results. Data for 450 students were taken from the field test in spring 1998.…

Nonreactive measures for testing students' achievement comprised of questions that ask students to apply procedures, concepts, and facts to real situations. An attempt was made to use such questions in junior high school science classes. These tests provided more diagnostic information than was usually available from normal classroom tests. (PS)

Two problems are investigated: (1) the fact that statistics from pretests sometimes vary widely from those for the actual test; (2) whether or not a correction factor should be applied for guessing. (DF)

Discusses the shortcomings of most teacher-made tests in elementary school science, and emphasizes the need for science teachers to use the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives as a guide in test construction. A model for testing and evaluation of science teaching outcomes is presented. Bibliography. (LC)

Discusses development of the American Association of Physics Teachers and National Science Teachers Association (AAPT/NSTA) high school physics examination. Includes sample examination questions and distribution of topics: mechanics (30 percent), waves/optics/sound (20 percent), heat/kinetic theory (10 percent), electricity/magnetism (25 percent),…

Describes a Q-sort type instrument useful in obtaining descriptive information about teaching methods and curriculum materials used in the science laboratory, including information for, among others, developing operational definition of constructs (inquiry), diagnosing problems in curriculum development or implementation, and monitoring the effect…

A professor of physical chemistry sees a sharp decline in math competence among his students and feels the reason is poor testing. How this can be changed is outlined, including a proposal to examine by computer. (Author/MSE)

Presents an evaluation of a 16+ Nuffield physics test. Lists topics covered on the test. Reviews student performance and indicates that the text discriminated at both ends of the ability range. (SK)

Lists questions and answers to a chemistry "trivia test," appropriate for secondary school students. (CS)

Two exam questions are presented with explanations of the acceptable solutions. The first deals with hybridization and the second with empirical formulas. (SA)

Five forms of a basic science examination administered over three years in a national board testing program were analyzed to determine the stability of judged cut scores. Results indicate that cut scores derived from the modified Nedelsky procedure were within equating error of the Rasch equated cut scores over the five administrations. (SLD)