The author notes the assessment requirements of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and discusses the value to educators of understanding handicapped students' needs in planning their instruction and assessment. (MF)

Reviews the purpose of tests and examinations and presents several examples of suggested test items which are designed to increase the teacher's knowledge of student ability. (SL)

Discusses the hottest reform movement in the country: proficiency testing for public school students. Differing opinions are given for and against the programs. (Author/RK)

Examines three reliability characteristics of the Harris revision of the Goodenough "Draw-a-man" Test when used with five-year-old school entrants. (Author/RK)

A computer-based narrative report integrating results from the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, the Opinion Attitude and Interest Survey, and the Cooperative English Test was compared with a standard profile format. No differences were found between the two methods for male and female. (Author)

Argues that it's time for the evidence on improved methods of assessing English to be reviewed at national level. (Editor)

The effects of immediate knowledge of results, goal setting instructions, and subjects' sex upon answering choice questions were evaluated in a group of seventh grade students. (Editor)

Reviews the "Quick-Score Achievement Test" (Q-SAT), an individually administered measure of school achievement for use with students aged 7-18, which has two forms and yields scores for reading, writing, arithmetic, facts, and general achievement. (SKC)

The marking, or grading, system used in Israel is discussed in terms of its history and current use. A standardized assessment instrument used as a practical biology matriculation test, the Practical Tests Assessment Inventory, is described. (LMO)

Reviews some of the characteristics of the New York state social studies testing program and describes how new questions are developed for the test. (JDH)

Forty-five elementary school teachers participated in a study to determine aspects of how teachers evaluate students. Three aspects in particular were studied: references used to assign grades; procedures to combine evaluations of a student; and the process to determine promotion. Results are reported. (JL)

Reviews the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI), a test designed to measure college students' learning and study strategies through self report. Advises that the test is still in experimental form, with a questionable norm group, and thus must be used with caution, especially in interpreting percentile ranks. (SKC)

This reply to William A. Mehrens argues that although some psychometricians are reluctant to endorse the use of test data for educational decision making, it is desirable that measurement specialists provide decision makers with practical, understandable ways to use test data. (JAZ)

Higher elementary student scores on standardized tests do not mean educational improvement. Scores can be affected by teaching "to" the test, coaching on test taking, and skewed norms. Test scores have been declining at the secondary level. Included is a discussion of secondary tests. (MD)

Describes how the Allentown, Pennsylvania, public school district uses district-wide final examinations (along with some class-specific test items designed by teachers) to assess secondary school programs, provide "feedback" to teachers, and evaluate student mastery of learning objectives. (MCG)