Chapter 10: Aptitude & Achievement Tests

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

1. Assessment and Accountability Systems; States must develop a system that includes performance goals, measures student performance, indicators of school quality (climate and safety or engagement) 2. School improvement and support: States must offer support to schools in need of improvement 3. Improving school climate, safety, and access to high quality comprehensive learning supports (MTSS) Other - -greater flexibility to measure student success -identify high-quality teachers, promote principle personal development -more targeted interventions -students of disadvantaged backgrounds tend to be adversity affected by accountability legislation

most commonly used national achievement test batteries for k-12

1. Iowa assessments 2. stanford achievement tests/stanford 10 3. metropolitan achievement test, 8th ed 4. terranova tests, 3rd ed

adult achievement tests

1. Often used in adult basic education programs and literacy settings 2. Most common is GED 3. Others are Adult Basic Learning Exam (ABLE) Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults, Tests of adult basic education (TABE), and basic achievement skills inventory (BASI)

high stakes testing ... purposes

1. ensure pertinent content and skills are in the curriculum 2. providing teachers and other stakeholders with information about student performance 3. addressing perceived problems in education 4. ensuring tax payers funds are appropriately distributed 5. providing information to communities about quality of their schools

GRE (graduate record examination)

A standardized graduate school entrance exam administered by the nonprofit Educational Testing Service (ETS), which measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills. The exam is generally required by graduate schools, which use it to assess applicants of master's and Ph.D. programs -norms on tests vary greatly among institutions and among specific departments

Validity of Scholastic Aptitude Tests

ACT and SAT are equal in their ability to predict college grades, but high school grades are the best predictors. -predictive validity in the .30-.50 range -GPA better predictor -big-fish-little-pond effect

SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)

Provided by the College Board, used to determine qualification to enter college revised in 2016 4 major sections - reading, writing and language, math, essay 2 section scores - reading + writing and language & math score

PSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test

a practice test that measures the critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills that students need to do college-level work. usually done in 10th or 11th grade 3 components - reading, writing & language, and math

Aptitude

ability to acquire a specific type of skill or knowledge predictive valiidty includes - SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, and other tests

high stakes testing ...

can indicate the quality of student learning and quality of instruction in a particular school or state

college level achievement tests

college-level examination program advanced placement program ets - test of english as a foreign language

other achievement tests

miller analogies, MCAT, dental admission test, law school admission test, graduate management admissions test

study habit inventories are useful for ...

self reflection teaching tool point out weaknesses/look for areas of improvement

study habit inventories include

study attitudes and method survey college student inventory learning and study strategies inventory learning styles inventory thinking styles inventory

big fish-little pond effect

the tendency to experience higher academic self-concept when surrounded by peers whose academic achievement is lower -those who attend high ability colleges/universities will have lower academic self concepts that similar peers in less competitive colleges/universities

ACT

used to determine qualification to enter college 4 academic achievement tests - english, math, reading, and science reasoning interest inventory - UNIACT Interest inventory questionnaire regarding student background and plans

aptitude tests for higher education

useful for determining academic, athletic, and financial aid eligibility; placing students in courses; counseling and advising -two major tests - SAT (& PSAT), ACT

achievement

what has already been learned or knowledge/skills that have been attained evaluated via content validity