Chapter 10: Assessment of Aptitude
Most readiness tests assess facets of the following five domains
1. physical 2. social and emotional 3. learning 4. language 5. cognition and general knowledge
Which best defines aptitude?
Acquired ability to be good at something
According to the text, a major concern in testing young children before allowing entry into school is that
All children develop at different paces
According to the text, the most well-known admissions test is the
SAT
Aptitude tests are assessments used to assess an individual's
ability to perform in future tasks
Admissions tests
are designed to predict performance in a particular educational program (SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.)
Multiple-aptitude test batteries
consist of a series of subtests that assess several aptitudes at one time; these yield a profile of subtest scores
DAT for PCA - Differential Aptitude Tests for Personnel and Career Assessment
has 8 subtests 1. Verbal reasoning 2. Numerical ability 3. Abstract reasoning 4. Clerical speed and accuracy 5. Mechanical reasoning 6. Space relations 7. Spelling 8. Language usage
ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
is the most widely used multiple-aptitude test battery in the world
GATB - General Aptitude Test Battery
one of the oldest general aptitude tests still used today; has 12 separately timed subtests
The main psychometric component used when examining the results of an admissions test is
predictive validity
Aptitude tests assessing whether or not children are prepared to attend school are called
readiness tests
Abilities
refer to one's present day capabilities or the power to perform a specified task (either physical or cognitive)
According to a study sanctioned by the College Board, college student success in the first year can best be predicted by examining
scores on admissions exams and high school GPA
Specialized Aptitude Tests
typically measure a single aptitude (e.g., clerical ability, mechanical ability, psychomotor ability, artistic ability, or music ability)
