Using college entrance exams as a primary criterion for college admission discriminates against minorities and the poor, but the practice continues. Coaching for these exams is done in test preparation clinics. One clinic run by the NAACP substantially raised the scores of Blacks but not those of minorities as a whole. (VM)

This document examines whether early targeted academic intervention can improve college admission test scores and pre- college planning for students identified through the Duke Talent Search and the school system Challenge Program. Students selected for the Early Awareness Test Preparation Pilot Program were invited to participate during their…

Reading is an essential way of attaining information, particularly for students studying in a university. Using reading strategies is extremely important for non-native readers of English because it serves as an effective way to overcome language deficiency and obtain better reading achievement. A study determined the psychometric properties of a…

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)

Presents a theoretical model that identifies the context in which students experience difficulties with complex multiple choice exams (MCE). Provides a structured approach that facilitates the development of critical thinking and metacognitive skills. Discusses a workshop in which participants reported increased knowledge concerning the process…

A group of eight educators and one law student discusses the most recent changes in the Scholastic Aptitude Test content and format, which will include a reasoning test and a battery of subject tests. Comments focus on general reactions, specific additions and deletions, test bias, implications for admissions, and coaching. (MSE)

Reports a study of the administration mode, scores, and testing experiences of students taking the PreProfessional Skills Test (PPST) under differing conditions (computer based and paper and pencil). PPST scores and surveys of the students revealed varied test-taking strategies and computer-related alterations in test difficulty, construct,…

College faculty are placing increasing importance on writing across the curriculum and the use of essay tests. Freshman seminar courses provide an ideal opportunity to teach students to take essay tests successfully. This article describes 10 ways faculty can help students improve their writing skills. (Author/MLW)

The stability of a 2-factor model proposed for the Gibb Experimental Test of Testwiseness was studied with 173 undergraduates. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicate that data fit the two-factor model and a simpler one-factor model. The Gibb test could be characterized as tapping a general testwiseness proficiency. (SLD)

The relative difficulty of the seven test-wiseness skills measured by the Gibb Experimental Test of Testwiseness, a measure of cue-using skills, was studied. Participants were 243 undergraduates from 3 universities, 79% of whom were Caucasian. Participants reported a mean grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Results suggest that some of…

This paper focuses on ways to include collaborative learning experiences in reading/writing courses as a method of addressing the demands for improving the communication skills of college students. It includes suggestions drawn from methods used in a college developmental reading class (which can, however, be modified for other types of classes),…

Reading strategies that have been identified and recommended by recent literature can be classified into four categories: cognitive strategies, compensation strategies, memory strategies, and test-taking strategies. Research indicated that the use of appropriate strategies may improve reading comprehension. Research has also suggested that readers…

An exam analysis procedure was developed at Loma Linda University School of Nursing to help students who do poorly on tests identify problem areas. Using the student's exam paper, the student and instructor discuss each incorrectly answered question, and record the problem on a check sheet. The procedure makes it possible to identify how many…

The extent of deficiencies in critical reading skills among 153 entering college students enrolled in basic skills reading courses at New Mexico State University was studied. Forty-nine percent of the sample were Hispanic Americans. The students were administered the Nelson-Denny Reading Test and the scores were converted into grade equivalents.…

The effect of cooperative test-taking (CT) on the achievement and attitudes of college seniors was investigated. The students (n=46) were randomly assigned to one of two sections of a course in measurement. They worked on projects in randomly assigned groups of four or five students. One section took frequent cooperative quizzes, while the other…