This project was undertaken to develop and validate a pupil response instrument for evaluating the instructional competence of aspiring teachers. Two school districts of moderate size and in close proximity to a university were selected for the project. The sample consisted of the pupils of 96 secondary area teacher candidates completing the student teaching requirement for a teaching certificate during the 1974-75 academic year. An instrument of 55 items was devised in which the pupils responded to each item on a five point scale ranging from agree to disagree. Candidates were requested to select one class section to complete the instrument near the end of the program. The resulting data was treated with a variety of statistical procedures which resulted in the selection of 30 items grouped into nine different factors. Results indicated, however, that the instrument could not be validated for students in grades seven through nine, because the terminology used was too difficult. It was concluded that pupil assessment of teaching competence adds a significant dimension to the student teaching program from a measurement viewpoint. However, because the fear of this practice by student teachers is great, the use of pupil assessment instruments for determining competence should be placed in the context of a formative test of self improvement and not be a final measurement of the candidates' capabilities to teach. (Tables are included.) (RC)