ERIC Number: ED278677
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Aug
Pages: 26
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
College Board Computerized Placement Tests: Validation of an Adaptive Test of Basic Skills.
Ward, William C.; And Others
The College Board Computerized Placement Tests are intended for use by two- and four-year colleges in determining whether entering students are prepared for college-level work in English, reading, and mathematics, or whether they need developmental studies. Seventeen colleges and universities participated in pilot testing of the College Board Computerized Placement Tests during 1984 and 1985. The main purposes were: (1) to familiarize the participating institutions with the adaptive testing process; (2) to determine the reactions of students, faculty and staff to the Computerized Placement Tests; and (3) to gather data relevant to the validity of the tests and their comparability to similar paper and pencil tests. Most of the 2,500 examinees were volunteers enrolled in English, reading and mathematics courses. Reactions of students and of faculty and staff were favorable. Both groups found the computer easy to use; both liked the adaptation of the tests to a student's level of skills and the ability to obtain immediate score reports. Analyses of the relations between test scores and end-of-term grades were done separately by level of course. Moderate correlations with grades were found for all categories of courses examined except for developmental mathematics courses, where the median correlations were over .50. (JAZ)
Descriptors: Adaptive Testing, Basic Skills, College English, College Faculty, College Mathematics, Comparative Testing, Computer Assisted Testing, Correlation, Developmental Studies Programs, Grade Point Average, Higher Education, Minimum Competency Testing, Pilot Projects, Reading Comprehension, Sex Differences, Student Placement, Student Reaction, Test Validity, Testing Programs
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A