This bibliography lists the holdings of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Test Center in the area of assessment alternatives in mathematics. Annotations describe the instruments or articles and indicate availability. Each entry is coded according to type, purpose, grade levels, content covered, type of tasks, skills assessed, and…

Kernel equating (KE) is a new approach to observed-score equating and is described in detail in von Davier, Holland, and Thayer (2004b). Over the past months, several evaluation studies of KE have been designed and carried out. In this part of the overall evaluation study, we compared the KE method with other equating methods using real data from…

Elementary school mathematics curricula are being developed that are designed to use calculators. As the calculator-integrated curricula are developed, tests must be developed that involve the use of calculators. Some examples of how achievement tests using calculators would be different are considered. (RH)

GED "Scoreboost" materials target exactly the skills one needs to pass the General Educational Development (GED) tests. This book focuses on the Mathematics test, with material to help develop the skills needed for whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. The workbook presents 16 strategies for skill development: (1) use a…

The Educational Testing Service studied the status of calculator use in high school classrooms. Responses were received from 4,568 high schools. Thirty-eight percent of those who were mailed a survey participated, and 12% of those who received e-mail invitations responded. Results indicate that the prevailing policy in U.S. high schools is to…

Suggests ways to analyze and modify typical classroom tests that are objective, easy to implement, and in accordance with the types of changes and recommendations being discussed to improve assessment. Sections include Criteria for Analyzing Classroom Tests; Modifying Test Items; Needed Steps; Cautions; and Conclusions. Uses actual classroom test…

Discusses the value of student self-assessment in promoting students' confidence in their ability to do mathematics and allowing them to become more independent in their learning of mathematics. The article describes various methods by which a student may self-evaluate and how the teacher might respond in fairly detailed examples. (AIM)

Demonstrates the capabilities of graphics calculators in assisting with a simple mathematical investigation. Subjects covered include Direct Calculation, Tables, Graphing Particular Cases, Logarithms, Parametric Solutions, and Three-Dimensional Plots and Contours. The question posed for investigation with the calculator is, for what pairs of…

Presents a characteristic curve procedure for comparing transformations of the item response theory ability scale assuming the multiple-choice model. Illustrates the use of the method with an example equating American College Testing mathematics tests. (SLD)

From their experience with open-ended tests requiring higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities, schoolchildren in the USSR learn to think before answering. U.S. students instead train for rapid response, learning how to take tests rather than how to solve problems. Tests should be part of the curriculum, not separate from it. (MLH)

Discusses the Third International Mathematics and Science Study including schools' involvement, international dimensions, tests' content, and value of TIMSS. (MKR)

This article describes the City of London Polytechnic Mathematics Competition for Inner London Secondary Schools. The question design policy is specified, and examples of tie-breaker questions are given. (Author/JDD)

Discusses some results of the CSMS test which provides information for teachers on students' levels of understanding in secondary school mathematics, including comparison with a Piagetian task, identification of misconceptions, and description of naive strategies. (MKR)

Review of trends in scores on the Scholastic Assessment Tests (SATs) suggests that increasing differences between mean scores on the verbal and mathematical sections may be at least partially due to statistical problems in the 1950s, changes in school curricula, and changes in the composition of the student test-taking population. (DB)

Validated data from a developmental mathematics assessment using classical and three-faceted Rasch measurement methods. Analysis of field test data for 289 elementary school students suggested that a unidimensional construct was being measured, as defined by Rasch criteria. Discusses limitations in confirming content-related validity of the…