Test data from 200 examinees from the Spanish Teacher Certification Examination and 75 examinees from the French Teacher Certification Examination were used in a study of scale drift in sequentially equated test forms. Using sampling with replacement, 1,000 samples of 100 examinees each for Spanish and 1,000 samples of 50 each for French were…

This paper discusses the design and pedagogy underpinning the use of online quiz items in which students are presented with a range of questions designed to enhance understanding of complex linguistic constructions. It explores the design of different types of quiz questions from the perspective of pedagogy and cognitive demand. The particular…

This paper presents an overview of the design features that were developed for the Content Analysis Project. The purpose of the project was to examine the congruence between a state's test in eighth-grade mathematics and that used by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The results of this analysis were then to be used to determine…

Results are presented from a study of portfolio use for large-scale assessment in the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) public schools that are more encouraging for the use of this form of assessment than many other studies have been. Requirements for the psychometric integrity of portfolio assessment are discussed. (SLD)

Psychometrically linking a state criterion-referenced test (CRT) and a norm-referenced test (NRT) to yield NRT information through the CRT was studied with samples of 1,500 to 3,000 elementary school students per subject and grade level in Connecticut. A CRT/NRT link can create a focused and coherent assessment system. (SLD)

This report presents the results of a study in which one of the job analysis surveys for the Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for the Beginning Teacher was administered to teachers and teacher educators in California. The purpose of this special administration was to determine if the multidisciplinary content in the test form (Form 1 of…

A job analysis was conducted to define the content domain important for newly licensed (certified) music teachers to perform their jobs competently. The results of the job analysis will be used to develop test specifications for the subject assessment in music of the Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. An initial draft…

Most seasoned test developers recognize the importance of thoughtful decision making when constructing a test. Unfortunately, many classroom achievement tests are created by novice test developed who have not received sufficient instruction in item writing (G. Gulliksen, 1986; R. J. Stiggins, 1991). The result is often a test that is poorly…

This handbook has been written for college teachers regardless of their prior training in pedagogy, assessment, or education. It is a practical handbook, designed for easy reference. Part 1 can provide either an introduction to Classroom Assessment or a comprehensive review, depending on the reader's prior experience. The first chapter explains…

This article on the T.E.S.T.S. (Taking Every Student To Success) strategy promotes using a variety of assessment strategies in order to alleviate the stress students experience during exams, enabling those who are not "good test takers" to achieve a higher degree of success. If the primary purpose of giving a test is to determine whether or not a…

Reflecting the ideas of many diverse individuals and organizations involved in reading education, this booklet presents Reading Framework for the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which provides the guidelines and theoretical basis for the 1992-2003 reading assessments. The first chapter, What Is the NAEP Reading…

Described are important changes that will be introduced in the mathematics sections of the new Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The three main changes are (1) permission to use calculators; (2) inclusion of open-ended questions; and (3) content revisions consistent with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics "Curriculum and Evaluation…

Reports on a study of 96 undergraduate developmental psychology students and their performance on student-developed "pop quizzes." Students who participated in writing test items had significantly higher scores than students who did not. Calls for more research into the effectiveness of other student-developed evaluation methods. (CFR)

This document describes the content and format of the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) measurements for reading comprehension of students in grades 4, 8, and 12. According to the framework, NAEP assesses three contexts for reading: reading for literary experience, reading for information, and reading to perform a task). In addition…

This article describes the use of a schematic model for developing and distributing online surveys. Two empirical studies that developed and implemented online surveys to collect data to measure satisfaction in various aspects of human resource development and adult education exemplify the use of the model to conduct online survey research. The…