ERIC Number: ED480927
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2002-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Impact of the Change in English Cutscores on Grades. Research Report 2002-04.
Belcheir, Marcia J.
The grades of students in English classes at Boise State University, Idaho, were studied before and after the implementation of changes in the cutscores for placing entering students in three different English levels. The effects of the cut score changes were to move more students into English 090 (the lowest level) from English 101, and to move more students from English 101 to English 102 (more advanced). The change also allowed some high-scoring students to receive credit for English 102 when they would previously have had to take the course. Information was provided on the course grades of students who were affected by the changes, compared to those who were not, and course grade distributions before and after the changes were available. Findings seem to indicate a lack of relationship between scores on the tests used for placement, the ACT and the Scholastic Assessment Tests. This finding may not be surprising, since these tests were not developed for course placement purposes. Grades distributions for the three courses were similar before and after the change in cutscores. Grades improved in English 101 after more students were required to take English 090. Although assigning more students to English 090 slowed their academic progress, these students probably were better equipped to take the next level, English 101. (SLD)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Boise State Univ., ID. Office of Institutional Assessment.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A