Discusses the growing interest in competency testing in writing at the college level, the growing dependence on minimal essays as the norm for "correct" composition, and the resulting decline in grace and style in college composition. (Author/HTH)

In response to recent concern about geographical illiteracy, a survey designed to determine specific knowledge about the locations of bodies of water, countries, and cities was distributed to 158 elementary education majors at the University of South Dakota (Vermillion). The results of the survey revealed: (1) only 65 percent correctly located the…

The state of the art in college-level competency testing is described, as is the development of a communication test for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside program. The research described herein exposes the fact that some students have communication problems which could inhibit their learning abilities. Valid and reliable procedures are needed…

A faculty member in a predominately black institution in the University System of Georgia critiqued the basic skills examination used as a placement and exit examination for the remedial program. He found that the local committee that developed the test had not defined what "basic skills" are, set priorities, nor specified degrees of…

Reports on the steps undertaken and the discoveries made by the English department of Illinois State University in its development of a valid, reliable measure of student competency in freshman composition. (HOD)

A competency test was developed to assess students skills in using electronic library resources. Because all students were required to pass the test, and had multiple opportunities to do so, multiple test forms were desired. Standards had been set on the original form, and minor differences in form difficulty needed to be taken into account.…

Examines three standardized college composition tests in terms of the context of the assignment and the impact of social influences and the testing situation. Stresses inadequacies inherent to standardized composition testing. (HTH)

The scheduled raising of the passing grade on Florida's College Level Academic Skills Test is discussed. The critics say the higher passing standard would have a severe impact on otherwise-qualified minority students and on those for whom English is not the native tongue. (MLW)

Teacher education testing requirements for all of the states are displayed on a chart. Categories of information include: date of data revision, the name of the test, passing rates, and passing scores for both admission to teacher education programs and teacher certification. (JD)

Competency assessment is used for diagnostic purposes at the City University of New York (CUNY) Queens College. CUNY had decided that all students admitted after 1987 be tested. In addition, minimum competencies were required after the completion of 60 credits. Queens College chose to use the tests for entering freshmen for placement decisions,…

A group evaluation program of student papers was established within a cross-disciplinary undergraduate writing program. The program was designed to train students to write for a general audience rather than for one teacher, and was initiated within the context of an institution that required students to display objective writing competency in any…

An assessment instrument to evaluate the competency of speech language pathologists, developed by the Special Education Competencies for Teachers Project, is presented. The instrument was developed by a committee of concerned educators, and a survey of Georgia special education directors, speech language pathologists, and a 10% sampling of…

Fear of poor teaching and low national test scores have spawned a back to basics movement and a shift from the use of tests as predictors and models to that of assessment and achievement. This movement may have positive impact on the teaching of English, which previously has not lent itself well to standardized testing. Although many English…

Four assumptions of the current reform movement in teacher education are critiqued: (1) that teacher education should be at the graduate level; (2) that teacher education should be more relevant; (3) that higher admission standards and increased testing are good; and (4) that higher standards will be mean higher salaries. (MT)

Testing for admission to a teacher education program, testing subject matter knowledge, testing competence, and testing a teacher's understanding of children are all discussed. The value of a continuing program of evaluation of prospective teachers is stressed. (Author/MT)