By being creative in preparing tests and by allowing creativity on the part of students, language teachers can incorporate many of the principles associated with proficiency-oriented instruction into a traditional test format. Such test strategies are based on the following: (1) testing in context is better than testing with a series of unrelated…

This study investigated the effect of writing task topic on learner performance in a second-language writing test, in this case the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery designed to test proficiency in English as a Second Language. The 64 topics or "prompts" used in the test (offered as pairs of options) were categorized according…

The Writing Assessment, part of the North Carolina End-of-Grade testing program, is required by the State for students in grades 4 and 7. The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) also tested students in grades 5 and 8 who did not receive a score of 2.5 or higher the previous year, but results for those students are not included in this report.…

This study was conducted to determine whether the writing skills, as measured by the University Writing Requirement (UWR), of Kentucky high school graduates who had participated in Kentucky's Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) writing portfolios had improved in comparison with their peers in the past who had not done the writing…

This manual presents information and instructions for test administrators in administering the 1998-99 version of the writing session of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). Sections of the manual present a checklist for test administrators; changes and reminders to the MEA for 1998-99; responsibilities of test administrators (scheduling,…

This manual presents information and instructions for principals and test coordinators in administering the 1998-99 version of the writing session of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). Sections of the manual present a checklist for principals/test coordinators; changes and reminders to the MEA for 1998-99; instructions for test coordinators…

To help teachers, administrators, and parents understand student performance in writing, a state-level report is prepared each year to analyze students writing scores and provide guidelines for the interpretation of the results. This report compares students scores on the 2001 Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) with scores on the 2000 DSTP…

The purpose of this book is to assist teachers as they work with emergent readers and writers--children who are in the early stages of reading and writing development, typically in preschool through grade 2. Section 1 of the book presents an overview of emergent literacy. Section 2 consists of a group of 15 informal early literacy pretests. The…

As part of the test development process, this technical report is intended to present technical information from the tryout and pilot stages of the Michigan High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) in Communication Arts: Writing. There are four major parts to this report. Part 1, Evolution of the HSPT in Communication Arts: Writing, introduces the…

Examined the Test of Written Expression's (TOWE) ability to identify students with various problems. Reviews indicate that the test is reliable in internal consistency, stability, and rater variance. All tests of writing, though, correlate poorly with intelligence tests. Some complications accompany the administration and scoring of the TOWE. (RJM)

Approximately 300 prospective graduate students each wrote two essays for the Graduate Record Examinations in 40-minute and 60-minute time periods. Analysis revealed that performance was, on average, significantly better with the 60-minute limit. There was no interaction between self-described test-taking style (fast versus slow) and time limits.…

This article presents an overview of several written language assessment techniques, as well as a rationale and method for assessing the written expression of hearing-impaired individuals. Fluency, syntactic maturity, vocabulary, content, and conventions of notation are discussed; direct and indirect measures are compared; and a sample composition…

Asserts that reading and writing are governed by the same logic that dominates social relations. Suggests that, because women suffer disproportionately from the effects of male-dominated culture, they may also suffer disproportionately when participating in play or when being tested on literacy skills. Questions the view that play is…

Describes the author's experiences grading the fast-writing portion of the English Composition Test. Notes that few of the examinees mentioned young adult literature in their examination essays. (PA)

Elaborates on and responds to challenges of direct writing assessment. Speculates on future directions in writing assessment. Suggests that, if writing instructors accept that writing is a multidimensional, situational construct that fluctuates across a wide variety of contexts, then they must also respect the complexity of teaching and testing…