To shed as much light on the declining test score phenomenon as possible, pertinent American College Testing data are presented here in a succinct question and answer format. (JY)

Effects that item order and basal and ceiling rules have on test means, variances, and internal consistency estimates for the Peabody Individual Achievement Test mathematics and reading recognition subtests were examined. Items on the math and reading recognition subtests were significantly easier or harder than test placements indicated. (Author)

Presents data on the French examination for the secondary school certificate: number of candidates, their teachers, sub-tests, method of correction, the results and the proposed changes in the tests. (Text is in French.) (MLA)

Replies to the immediately preceding article. The author contends that the cause of incompetence resides more in the overall ambience of disaffection in the nation than in the schools. (Author/IRT)

The National Assessment Governing Board has recognized the need to study associated policy and technical issues to ensure that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is ready to do the best job possible if called on to confirm the results of state achievement testing under the No Child Left Behind Act. This report describes the…

The ABC Accountability Plan in North Carolina elementary and middle schools focuses primarily on the average growth shown by groups of students on end-of-grade reading and mathematics tests. Average test results for a group of students at the end of a year are compared to scores for the same students at the end of the prior year. Two levels of…

Delaware students must meet world-class standards if they are to be competitive and successful in a global economy. To prepare students for their future, schools must support rigorous standards and each teacher must set high expectations. Students must also commit themselves to the achievement of excellence. Any system that hopes to accomplish…

Analyzes the uses that can be made from test data and the influences such data can have on communication with communities, in the evaluation of school's effectiveness, and student's placement. (Author/RK)

A comparison of normative data for the 1976 and 1978 Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) showed standard scores are comparable, except on Spelling II, but grade ratings are not comparable at the upper ends of the distributions. (Author)

The author appraises the first report--on primary maths--of the APU primary survey unit which was designed as an assessment of sample selected age groups in primary and secondary schools to provide a general picture of performance. (Author/KC)

Measures of anxiety and achievement were obtained on a sample of undergraduate students. Highly anxious students had lower achievement on humorous tests. Students with low anxiety had higher achievement on humorous tests. Results indicate that humor is not a positive factor in reducing high anxiety associated with academic evaluations. (Author)

The kind of data base required for diagnostic-prescriptive instruction may be supplied by individual skills profile sheets of any standardized test. Discusses design and operation of a diagnostic-prescriptive program in an elementary school in rural South Carolina, designed because of wide differences in performance among students at all…

Discusses three common misconceptions about achievement testing: (1) the idea that men generally outscore women; (2) the notion that the primary role of norms is to compare one student to another; and (3) the misconception that it is not possible to measure the achievement of kindergarten and primary grade students with group tests. (SLD)

Uses data from the High School & Beyond national survey to show how a model of cultural nesting can be used to examine cultural diversity and disaggregate achievement-test results within and across U.S. racial groups. Suggests that the model is more useful than simple white/nonwhite academic-performance comparisons. (SLD)

In recent years, governments worldwide have increased their use of standardized tests and other forms of external tests to measure and report on student achievement in selected academic subjects. That trend, responding to public pressure on decision-makers to make school systems more transparent and accountable, is often colored by criticisms of…