A study investigated the ability of university undergraduates in introductory classes to study effectively. Subjects, 64 students in a western civilization class and 68 students in a sociology class at a moderately sized comprehensive university in a northern plains state, were administered a cloze passage constructed from the textbook being used,…

The general features of function-specific assessment are described and illustrated via a discussion of the design and development of "The Reading Biographer," an instrument for assessing experiences and activities of students (from early childhood through high school) that affect their reading achievement as high school seniors. The…

The traditional multiple-choice reading comprehension test of English as a second language, used in the Dutch school-leaving examinations, has been criticized for its apparent lack of construct validity. The Dutch National Institute for Educational Measurement has conducted a number of studies to determine whether there is a different skill…

To help college reading teachers develop an awareness of what standardized reading tests do and do not reveal about students' reading abilities, a study examined the testing of reading and criticized four major standardized tests. Results indicated that reading is tested through (1) reading passages accompanied by multiple choice questions, (2)…

A study of one grade cohort of students taught in a Chicago Mastery Learning Reading (CMLR) Program was extended to two additional cohorts, one older and one younger than the original group but who were taught using the same method. The students' reading comprehension test scores were compared with those of students in other schools, not taught by…

Intended to help prepare teachers and students for the January 1987 diploma exams, this bulletin presents useful information about the design, parts and scoring of French language and literature tests by describing and including scoring guides and sample questions. A schedule of administration and scoring dates is included in the bulletin. This…

Seventeen tables of statistical data on students in New York City Public Schools are provided for the years 1970-81. The data are briefly discussed under seven categories. (1) Enrollment: from 1971-72 to 1981-82, enrollment in the public school system declined by 19.5%, most of the decline being in elementary school enrollments. A considerable…

This paper details the development of the high school general mathematics examination and reading comprehension tests for grades one through eight for the curriculum referenced testing program in Charleston County School District, South Carolina. While the basic developmental approach was similar, problems encountered in developing the two types…

This report presents tables summarizing test results statewide for ninth-grade students who took the New Jersey High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) in April, 1987. The HSPT consists of reading, writing, and mathematics sections, and must be passed as one of the requirements for a high school diploma. Data include percent passing, mean score, and…

This report summarizes test results statewide for tenth-grade students who took the New Jersey High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) in April, 1987. The HSPT consists of reading, writing, and mathematics sections, and must be passed as one of the requirements for a high school diploma. The tenth-grade students who were tested consisted of students…

This booklet interprets and summarizes the results of the Connecticut Statewide Basic Skills Proficiency Test as administered to ninth graders in October, 1986. The test measures basic skills in reading and mathematics, and basic writing skills in the language arts. The test is used to identify students who require further remediation in order to…

Many teacher educators have concluded that the format of graduate reading practicum reports (which have been patterned after medical or psychological reports), needs to be reexamined or refined. In the University of Central Florida's reading practicum classes, practicum reports are becoming more simplified, with pedagogical and psychological…

A study investigated the use of multidimensional scaling (MDS), a statistical technique, to examine the underlying structure of an ability test at the item level. Subjects were over 8,500 Egyptian students in the Department of Public Service at the American University in Cairo. The testing instrument used was a 36-item English language test based…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 13 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) the preparation of eighth grade students for criterion referenced reading testing and its effect on standardized reading scores; (2) alternative cloze test…

A longitudinal survey that was part of a larger British research project on the perception of textual cohesion has yielded some insights into the reading problems of students on both sides of the primary/secondary school line. Subjects were 1,355 children, ages 8, 10, and 13. Two booklets for junior school and two for secondary school students…