The Puerto Rico Office of the College Board is seen as no longer an "experiment" in the Caribbean, but an essential part of the educational community. A Spanish SAT has been established and proven valid as a predictor of academic performance in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. (MLW)

In a two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni-type follow-up to detect biased items on Forms A and B of the test found that bias-in-item difficulty occurred for the Mexican-American and White groups. The need to examine the issue and reconsider popular conceptualizations of bias in testing is shown. (Author/CM)

Factor-analyzed the WISC-R, PIAT, and WRAT scores of 183 male, learning disabled students. Findings suggest intelligence and achievement are composed of similar traits and skills. Therefore, comparison of individual achievement test scores with traditional Verbal, Performance, or Full Scale intelligence for learning disabled children may not be…

Results indicate that the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) is a valid predictor of achievement for children referred for learning disabilities. The verbal Scale IQ, and the Freedom from Distractibility IQ proved especially useful predictors of academic achievement. (JAC)

A study attempted to assess the nutrition knowledge of children in kindergarten through the sixth grade. Knowledge of seven broad concepts in nutrition was tested using the Nutrition Achievement Test. Results of the study indicated a widespread ignorance of nutrition on the part of school age youth. (JN)

Explores the practice of basing college admissions decisions on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) over conventional achievement tests. Suggests that the SAT does not reward diligence, and the SAT implies that secondary school instruction is unimportant. Supports changing the admissions system to reward those who learn most in secondary school.…

The three-parameter logistic model has been used for identifying test items that may be biased. An approach is presented here that is applicable even when one of the subgroups is relatively small. Interactions between item content and group membership, commonly called item bias, may be conceptualized as multidimensionality. (Author/BW)

A reanalysis of Stephens' intercorrelations of Wechsler subtests, achievement tests, and Piagetian tasks was conducted. (EJ 055 112) Piagetian tasks contributed almost equally to the definition of the general factor in intelligence along with the Wechsler subtests and the achievement tests. Communality outweighed differences between intelligence…

Since all commonly used latent trait models assume a unidimensional test, the applicability of the procedure to obviously multidimensional tests is questionable. This paper presents the results of the application of latent trait, traditional, and factor analyses to a series of actual and hypothetical tests that vary in factoral complexity.…

Two studies evaluated partitioning methods, in order to study how items are perceived by students and to determine how students organize content. Achievement test items in five content areas of educational measurement were used as stimuli to be sorted by groups of students who varied in sophistication. (Author/CTM)

Using three sets of real data, a comparison of four discrete discriminate analysis procedures is made using the actual versus the optimal error rate. The kernel method gives the most accurate results in all three cases. (Author/RL)

This follow-up study of 275 university freshmen confirmed that the final secondary examination, the Higher School Certificate, is a moderately good predictor of university success. Of the other variables studied (satisfaction with university and various personality measures) only a study habits score contributed further to the prediction of…

Reports data on the predictive utility of the WISC-R factor scores for Native American Navajos and examines the diagnostic utility of the FD scores as a correlate of academic achievement. Results indicate limited utility of the WISC-R factor scores in predicting academic achievement for Native American Navajos. (Author/RC)

Examines whether retesting: (1) affects achievement of students (N=95) grouped according to previous achievement in science; and (2) influences students to delay studying and perform at a low level on initial tests. Also examines whether procrastination of retested students is affected by their achievement level. (DS)

Test validity, coaching, the college admissions process, and achievement tests are discussed by the director of the Iowa Testing Programs. Data published on the SAT are examined. It is suggested that systematic instruction in problem-solving skills may improve not only test performance but also skills the test is designed to assess. (Author/MLW)