Two senior GCE examiners re-marked photocopies of the same 200 GCE examination scripts, half still containing the marks and comments of the original examiners and half with these markings removed. Removing previous markings made a considerable difference to the extent of agreement between these sets of marks. (Editor/SJL)

Results showed that the error rate in the summary code for the revised edition of the self-directed search (SDS) was significantly lower than the error rate for the original SDS. High-point-code error rates between the two forms were similar. (Author)

Suggests that the principal conclusions in the earlier report regarding the relative effects and sex restrictiveness of norm-scored instruments and raw-scored instruments are not warranted by the study design. Alternative approaches and additional research are presented. (Author)

Findings support Koppitz's assertion that the total error score for the Bender Gestalt Test is stable and reliable. Working time is a relatively stable dimension of Bender performance, which may be of value in assessment activities. Perseveration and integration should not be used in differential diagnosis. (Author)

An open-category task was administered to 180 elementary students. Three modes of response (related to the ways students acquire attributes for objects) were used to score the tasks. Qualitative changes in the three modes were analyzed, and the results supported a qualitative change in the modes of response. (Author/GDC)

Technical problems in achievement testing associated with using latent structure models to estimate the probability of guessing correct responses by examinees is studied; also the lack of problems associated with using Wilcox's formula score. Maximum likelihood estimates are derived which may be applied when items are hierarchically related.…

The article reviews current estimation techniques and their resultant effects on the learning disability classroom's composition. An alternate estimation methodology, using z-score conversions, is presented. (Author/SBH)

Provides information about the Firewise Program whose goal is to assist people to become more fire-aware and better prepared for the effects of wildfire on property. Discusses why there are so many wildfires and what can be done. Includes the Wildland Fire Risk and Hazard Severity Assessment Form. (KHR)

The development and scoring of a recently introduced computer-based writing skills test is described. The test asks the examinee to edit a writing passage presented on a computer screen. Scoring difficulties are addressed through the combined use of option weighting and the sequential probability ratio test. (SLD)

Provides advice on implementing performance assessment in the classroom. Outlines the basic steps from defining the purpose of the assessment to giving the student feedback. Advice is also given about scoring rubrics. (SLD)

Considers how educators can best prepare their students to meet the demands of test standards without sacrificing what they know to be effective teaching. Provides examples of how addressing the standards improved both the author's teaching and student learning by providing a focus and a challenge that moved her out of her comfort zone. (SG)

The Joint Committee on Testing Practices has completed the "Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education," which is meant for the public and focuses on the proper use of tests in education--admissions, educational assessment and diagnosis, and student placement. The Code separately addresses test developers' and users' roles. (SLD)

Defines authentic assessment as an approach to assessment that is designed to correspond as closely as possible to real world experience. Discusses the rubric, a tool that is being used across the curriculum, and how it can be used in technology education. Rubrics are scoring devices designed to assist in clarifying, communicating, and assessing…

Protocols (n=149) of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised that were completed by 22 graduate students were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of practice administrations in developing examiner competence. Even completing 10 administrations did not reduce errors students made, suggesting that careful training is required. (SLD)

The study reported here investigated the effects of using props to illustrate the meaning of sentences in a syntactic awareness task in which subjects were required to correct ungrammatical sentences. Children scored significantly higher in the props condition though the proportion of meaning-changing errors to total errors was not significantly…