Since the late 1960s, curriculum and instruction have increasingly become "test driven." Research documents the negative effects of standardized testing on instruction, students, and teachers. At their best, tests reflect students' ability to take tests. Research supports the need for change in testing policies. Massive testing must be eliminated,…

Precollege quantitative measures were used to predict college persistence in natural sciences for high-achieving high school graduates. High school grades in math and science and the highest math Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score were positive predictors. A Math 2 achievement test test score or projected score was the strongest predictor.…

Oral language abilities in 20 boys (ages 9-13) with chronic behavior disorder were investigated, using 20 standardized language measures. Findings indicated generally poor or inconsistent language skills, with abstract concepts and linguistically complex structures particularly difficult. (Author/DB)

A study investigated the degree to which enhancement of instruction in blood transfusion medicine (TM) in the medical school curriculum is reflected in performance on 1989-90 National Board of Medical Examiners examinations in comparison with 1984-85. Students performed better on TM-related items than on items generally in 1989-90, suggesting more…

This guide for school administrators is written to promote careful and wise use of scores from standardized achievement tests. Authors of two sections particularly criticized in the review respond about what should be included in a primer on testing and interpreting test scores for compensatory education students. (SLD)

Describes the processes and techniques used to assist a suburban, lower-middle socioeconomic community's school system plan strategies to improve its students' proficiency test scores. Techniques included content analyses of the system's textbooks, the Graded Course of Study, and standardized tests for grades four, six, and eight in comparison…

Teachers at an Israeli junior high school observed and assisted examiners administering the oral Bagrut examinations and realized the importance of oral language proficiency as part of the final examination. Positive repercussions are discussed. (LB)

Educators are concerned about overuse or inappropriate use of standardized test scores as graduate school admission criteria, particularly for minority groups. Efforts to reduce test bias are increasing, and admissions officers are encouraged to focus more on qualitative elements of applications, such as essays, letters of recommendation, and…

Norm-referenced and criterion-referenced approaches were used to set a minimum passing score for Part II of the pilot National Board Dental Examination. Standards and associated failure rates were found similar for both approaches. This and the advantages of the former approach suggest it is an appropriate method. (Author/MSE)

Much work is needed in the area of testing and assessment of limited-English-proficient students. The article discusses characteristics of bilingualism, code switching and other bilingual language patterns, the five types of tests currently used with limited-English-proficient students, and the new curriculum-based achievement tests which are more…

A survey of 105 institutions concerning their use of 3 standardized English tests with foreign graduate students investigated the differences in use and variance among test scores established by different institutions. Overall, results indicate the language proficiency of international graduate students is not examined very carefully before…

Discussed is the use of concept mapping as a tool to enhance meaningful learning for college autotutorial biology students. Student attitudes toward concept mapping is described. The correlation between SAT scores and concept mapping was investigated. (KR)

Instead of relying on standardized test scores and interdistrict comparisons, school systems must develop a more powerful, timely, and local approach to accountability that is truly client-centered and focused on results. Accountability requires giving successful teachers the freedom and opportunity to take effective ideas beyond their own…

Proposes to integrate critical thinking and problem-solving into two existing international tests of business German (Prufung Wirtschaftsdeutsch International and Zertifikat Deutsch fur den Beruf), and to contextualize the tests' tasks in a more authentic business setting without compromising their content. Parallels are drawn with the American…

Places performance assessment in the context of high-stakes uses, describes underlying technologies, and outlines the history of performance testing from 210 B.C.E. to the present. Historical issues of fairness, efficiency, cost, and infrastructure influence contemporary efforts to use performance assessments in large-scale, high-stakes testing…