One of two articles on academic achievement, this article discusses the performance of U.S. students on mathematics and science achievement tests compared to students in other countries. Recent data show they are performing better. This commentary examines the importance of meeting certain research conditions before drawing conclusions about…

Best-evidence synthesis was used to review 29 research papers published in English that evaluate the effects of ability grouping on student achievement in secondary schools. Six randomized experiments, 9 matched experiments, and 14 correlational studies were reviewed. Findings do not indicate beneficial effects of ability grouping on achievement.…

Seventy-nine male and 89 female adolescents participated in a study concerning identification and socioemotional situations. Subjects included 22 many-sided gifted achievers, 45 one-sided gifted achievers, 27 gifted underachievers, and 74 controls. Results suggest that the general self-concept of high school students, including the gifted, is…

The role played by sex-related differences in prediction of grades from Scholastic Aptitude Test scores with regard to the grade criterion and the variables associated with academic performance was studied for an entire university first-year class (4,351 students). Sources of underprediction for women are discussed. (SLD)

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) study describes either 3- or 4-year trends in average campus-level passing rates on TAAS at all grade levels. It discusses student, teacher, campus, and district characteristics as they may relate to student success on TAAS by looking at data for students in grades 4, 8, and 10 for four consecutive…

The investigation examined the "Wide Range Achievement Test" (WRAT) and its subtests (spelling, reading, and arithmetic), as well as possible differences attributable to the factors of sex, with the "Chicago Non-Verbal" (CNV) as a criterion variable. The 1970 study encompassed 72 Indian students (with a mean chronological age…

Comments on the apparent disparity between mathematics achievement as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and various international studies, focusing on the comparability among studies, the magnitude of change in average test scores, and the role of family-related factors in achievement trends in other countries. (SM)

Using linear discriminant analysis, two samples of Canadian high school students (n=929 and n=968) were tested using measures of self-concept, academic self-concept, and academic achievement. Academic self-concept was more effective than was academic achievement in differentiating between low-track and high-track students. (SLD)

Aptitude tests are defined in contrast to intelligence and achievement tests. Although aptitude tests, like intelligence tests, measure a student's overall performance across a broad range of mental capabilities, the former also often include items that measure more specialized abilities (such as verbal and numerical skills) that predict…

This overview of research focuses on the characteristics of immersion programs in the Ottawa area. These are primary-entry, late-entry (grade 6 or 7), and secondary level bilingual programs. The following matters are treated: tests and testing conditions; comparisons with Canadian Public Service language requirements; comparisons between groups…

This experiment investigated the significance of spontaneous occurrence of number symbols in the drawings of 86 (23 male pairs and 20 female pairs) kindergarten children. A comparison was made of first grade achievement on the Piaget Number Concept Test of students who used alphabetic and numeric symbols in the Draw-a-Classroom Test in…

In an investigation of the relationship between teacher analytic questioning skill and student performance, 69 preservice teachers were assigned to one of three treatment conditions designed for questioning training: (1) written model, protocol form; (2) written model, transcript form; (3) placebo, control group. Two hundred ninety-five eigth…

Use of the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test in Australia was studied by comparing it with existing research, scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), and other attainment tests. Subjects were 142 children aged 7-11 years. The suitability of the instrument in Australia is discussed. (SLD)

The purpose of this literature review and Ex Post Facto descriptive study was to determine which type of benchmark assessment, multiple-choice or project-based, provides the best indication of general success on the history portion of the CST (California Standards Tests). The result of the study indicates that although the project-based benchmark…

Little research exists on the psychological impacts of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and how it may affect test performance. Three CAT procedures were examined, in which items were selected to match students' achievement levels, from the item pool at random, or according to student choice of item difficulty levels. Twenty-four graduate…