It is commonly believed that highly subjective humans ultimately perform all testing and grading efforts and that all testing and grading is completely subjective. However, Quentin Durham argues that there is no such thing as objective testing or grading. With wit and clarity, "The Realities of Classroom Testing and Grading" suggests that all…

Research indicates that the quality of classroom assignments makes a difference in student learning. Moreover, assignment quality varies between teachers even within the same school and there is room for improvement in many of the assignments that teachers provide to students. Assignment quality, as described in this book, puts into practice…

School administrators in a small suburban school district in Southeastern Pennsylvania were concerned about grade inflation at the elementary and secondary levels. Specifically, they wanted to know if students in grades 5, 8, and 11 who scored at the basic or below basic performance level on the 2003-2004 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment…

This paper analyzes the significance of a court's action on educational improvement. During its 2001-02 term, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in and decided the "Owasso Independent School District Number 1-011 v. Falvo" case. This case involved whether it is an acceptable practice for teachers to allow students to grade…

Despite writing teachers' best efforts, students still seem to regard the request to revise as intimating failure. Many researchers have noted students' lack of response to teacher comments, and much of this research has provided a corrective lens on vague or even aggressive teacher comments. Unpracticed writers replace the task of revising with…

This report describes a study conducted in response to a request for help in establishing decision rules for exempting prospective teachers from a proposed statewide testing requirement in Indiana. Having decided to use Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores as a basis for exempting prospective teachers from the Pre-Professional Skills Test…

This book presents guidelines to help teachers design and conduct grading practices that help students feel in control of their own academic success. After an introduction, the 12 chapters are: (1) "Linking Grades"; (2) "Using Performance Standards"; (3) "Grading Individual Achievement"; (4) "Sampling Student Performance"; (5) "Changing Grades";…

This study used Project Essay Grade (PEG) to evaluate essays both holistically and with the rating of traits (content, organization, style, mechanics, and creativity) for Web-based student essays that serve as placement tests at a large Midwestern university. In addition, the use of a TopicScore, or measure of topic content for each assignment,…

This paper examines the relationship between the grades teachers give their students and the scores external raters give the same students' work when using a common set of standards and criteria. Data were collected from 78 high school teachers participating in the Proficiency-Based Admission Standards System (PASS) project to establish standards…

Evidence is presented concerning achievement of cognitive objectives in a college course on drugs. A mastery grading system insured that students learned to criterion. Reported experience with drugs did not change during the course and was unrelated to measures of learning and student ratings of the course and the instructors. (Author)

Describes the use of a basic language program to calculate and report grades, especially to counsel students about their progress. Indicates that students' weaknesses or strengths are determinable through estimates of their future grade performance. (CC)

Describes a scheme for marking multiple-choice test items by computer. This program, which is currently being used in Queensland, Australia, facilitates scoring and the standardization of scores. It also enables rapid item analysis which can be used to improve the quality of objective items. (JR)

Students' socioeconomic backgrounds may be important in determining their grades in the typical public speaking oriented communications course. (RN)

Article investigates the value of grades from the point of view of the student, the teacher, and the employer. (RK)