In 1998 for the first time, the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) administered a writing assessment at the state level. This report describes the writing achievement of Virgin Islands eighth-grade students and compares their overall performance to students nationwide (using data from the NAEP national assessments). In the Virgin…

The impact of the new Virginia statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) testing program on classroom instructional and assessment practices was studied through surveys before and after implementation of the testing program. The sample represented responses from 570 secondary school teachers (of mathematics, social studies, English, and science) and…

This report presents findings of a study of instruments used in the identification of gifted and talented students. The study first examined the published literature, both standardized and locally developed identification instruments and procedures, and strategies used to identify underserved populations. These data were catalogued in the National…

The use of achievement tests for high-stakes decision making is discussed, and some comments are made about Ralph Tyler's contributions to educational assessment and what has resulted from them. The assessment war was raging more than 100 years ago, as historical records of testing student achievement demonstrate. Ralph Tyler, in the 1960s, did…

The SAT Program undertook two studies aimed at evaluating the impact of allowing students to indicate more than one ethnic/racial category. Results of this study indicated that there is little impact on DIF [differential item functioning] analyses when different definitions of ethnic/racial classifications are used compared to traditionally…

Outlines a program for implementing individualized instruction. (RK)

This investigation attempts to determine if the congruity in textbook-test content varies as a function of different styles of textbook use. Across all standardized tests, instructional validity of the five styles of textbook use was far lower for the management-by-objectives model than for any other styles. (Author/PN)

A statistical comparison of Medical College Admission Test scores with National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Part I scores of one school's students supported simple averaging of subtest scores rather than weighting as a predictor of NBME Part I performance. Similar results were obtained using basic science course examination scores. (MSE)

The evolution of the relationship between the College Entrance Examination Board and the Educational Testing Service is outlined, and five aspects of the current cooperative relationship are noted: contractual agreements, shared tasks, specific membership needs, moral obligations to the educational community, and tradition. (MSE)

Comparative predictive validities of 147 secondary school students were examined for six subtests of the SRA Assessment Survey and for five subscales of the Dimensions of Self-Concept relative to overall/grade point average (GPA) earned and to GPA achieved in English and mathematics courses. (Author)

Discusses reasons why standardized tests and their use are important topics of discussion. Testing is: widely used in schools and supported by the public; criticized by both educational and noneducational groups; only minimally a part of teachers'/administrators' training; constantly being changed and developed. (LC)

Based on the assumption that dental schools need to consider applicants with diverse backgrounds, a study was undertaken of the relationship between undergraduate majors and performance in dental school. Liberal arts majors performed as well in dental school and as well or better on licensing examinations as science majors. (Author/MSE)