Reports the results of three studies that were designed to discover whether the use or non-use of dictionaries had an effect on students' performance on English as a foreign language reading tests. Results indicate that the use of dictionaries had no significant effect on students' test scores. (SED)

An English-as-a-second-language reading comprehension test is analyzed, first using classical measurement procedures and then using the Rasch Model latent trait procedures. Results indicate that the Rasch Model analysis procedure produced numerous advantages for the test developer. Summarizes and describes 13 of these advantages. (SED)

The construct validity of the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Scale (REEL) was investigated with 60 mentally retarded children (1-3 years old). Results indicated that REEL language ages were generally consistent with samples of communicative behavior and were also related significantly to indices of children's cognitive functioning.…

Discusses the relationship between subjective evaluation and objective measures of ESL writing proficiency. Objective measures used in this study accounted for 84 percent of the variance of subjective grades assigned to a sample of compositions. Author suggests that training readers can be important to the reliability and the validity of the…

Outlines the main testing needs, problems, and recommendations formulated by Michael Canale and by the four authors who reacted to his paper, "Considerations in the Testing of Reading and Listening Proficiency." Discusses three major and interrelated needs and two key problems found in receptive skills testing and makes recommendations.…

A review of the evolution of second-language immersion program testing reveals that the focus has shifted from listening and reading comprehension to productive skills of speaking and writing. Immersion students learn to speak and write well enough for communication but not well enough to be indistinguishable from native speakers. (MSE)

Considers with examples from German to English translation: (1) the extent that translation fulfills its role as an achievement test and as a test of proficiency, (2) how useful it is as a diagnostic test, and (3) what role it should play in the testing of advanced learners. (EKN)

Understanding and accounting for gender performance differences on high stakes examinations has become a particular concern for educational researchers to ensure test fairness for all examinees. In the context of second/foreign language proficiency testing, research suggests that males and females do not react differently at the item level.…

The prekindergarten (pre-K) program is an important part of the systemic effort by the Austin Independent School District, Texas (AISD) to help every student meet the state's student performance standards. In 2000-2001, 41 of the district's schools offering pre-K (79% of all elementary schools) had full-day programs and 17 had half-day programs. A…

A study investigated the relationship between two factors, native language and language learning experience, on university students' performance on the English Placement Test used at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Subjects were 203 students who took the test in August 1994 and completed a questionnaire about their learning…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) prekindergarten program is an important component of the state and district goal of having every student reading on grade level by the end of third grade. In 1999-2000, 57 of the 71 AISD elementary schools provided prekindergarten education. The AISD prekindergarten program served 3,571 4-year-olds.…

The College Board conducted a survey of students who took the ELPT test in 1996 and 1997. The survey yielded responses from 141 students with self-reported TOEFL scores. The results suggest a strong, near linear relationship between students' performance levels on these two English language proficiency instruments.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a "natural" four-alternative multiple choice item represents the same psychological task as a five-choice item rescored as a four-choice item. (Author)