The relationship between GEAR UP program involvement and Latina/o students’ performance on high-stakes tests

To assess the impact of a college preparation program, district-wide changes in high-stakes test pass rates are examined, followed by an examination of specific program elements that are associated with students’ score changes. Changes in pass rates for districts with and without services are compared for the Latina/o and overall student populations. This study also examines the relationship between hours of participation in various elements of the college preparation program and changes in test scores of low-income Latina/o students. Results indicate that key program elements related to improvements in test scores include participation in mentoring and summer programs.     

Test Preparation: Examining Teacher Perceptions and Practices

This study analyzed questionnaire and interview data on teachers' practices and perceptions with respect to test preparation. Questionnaire respondents were asked to rate the ethicality of various test-preparation practices and indicate the extent to which they utilize these practices in their instruction. On the basis of questionnaire results, interviews were conducted with a smaller sample of teachers to determine their views on the appropriateness of particular test-preparation practices, and to determine the factors affecting teacher perceptions about a given activity. Contrary to previous empirical work, questionnaire results indicated that neither use of a given practice nor teacher perceptions of the ethicality of the practice vary across levels of student achievement. On the other hand, consistent with previous empirical work, both use and perceptions varied across grade-level configuration. Estimates of the prevalence of particular teacher practices and perceptions were obtained and compared with those from the literature. In addition, dimensions of teacher reasoning were explored, indicating that when considering the appropriateness of a given practice, teachers consider the following factors: score meaning, learning, the potential for raising student scores, professional ethics, equity, and external perceptions.     

Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste: Large-Scale Assessment and the Response to COVID-19

In early spring 2020 the vast majority of US colleges and schools closed for the year due to COVID-19 with no clear direction on when or how these institutions will reopen for in-person instruction. School closures and the associated health concerns haulted large scale admissions testing and required alternative models such as remote proctoring at home, additional flexibility in test sites and administrative conditions, and additional testing dates for the fall. It is clear that access to admissions testing has been greatly reduced despite these efforts resulting in extended deadlines in graduate admissions and the wide-scale adoption of test-optional polcies in undergraduate admissions. This paper traces the efforts undertaken by admissions testing programs to adapt to COVID-19 and the measurement issues which emerge from these efforts.     

打开美国大学之门的十把钥匙——兼谈美国对于高考改革与“取消高考”的争论

美国高校录取工作的宗旨就是要从众多申请者(考生)中选拔出那些最有可能在大学取得成功的学生,他们在选拔新生时往往全面考察报考学生的各方面素质及其他背景因素,包括高中选修的AP课程等大学预备课程的成绩、大学入学考试成绩、高中成绩总评、高中年级排名等十大因素。但在众多因素中,学业成绩仍然是最重要的考查指标。美国关于大学入学考试改革的争论也非常激烈,甚至有人提出"取消高考"的主张。美国高校录取工作的经验、做法和其中的争论,值得我们关注、研究与借鉴。     

Utilization of Analogies to Teach Critical Thinking Skills

The question is no longer whether American industry and technology can successfully compete with the Japanese–at present, it is evident that we cannot. At stake is the very survival of our national economic well-being as we move from a post-industrial economy to a high technology model. For education, the issue is whether we can learn from the Japanese and, in doing so, improve the quality and productivity of American education.     

美国SAT数学考试述评与启示

美国的SAT考试面向全世界,有其独特的特点.文章介绍了SAT的总体情况,着重介绍了SAT数学考试并对其中的试题进行了分析.从试题编制、评分方式、解题过程和知识记忆这四点对我国的数学高考提出了思考.     

Providing transparency and credibility: the selection of international students for Australian universities. An examination of the relationship between scores in the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT), final year academic programs and an Australian university’s foundation program

Throughout 2003–04 five cohorts of students in their final year of school studies in various Malaysian colleges and a group of students completing an Australian university foundation year in Malaysia sat the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT). The ISAT is a multiple‐choice test of general academic abilities developed for students whose first language is not English. Both sets of scores were examined to investigate the relationship between skills measured by the academic programs and the generic reasoning skills measured by the ISAT. The data were examined by looking at correlations and patterns of the ISAT scores, and the total academic program scores and individual subject scores. As well, multiple regression was used to examine if the ISAT could act as a predictor for academic program scores. Although the ISAT and measures of achievement in the academic programs are two completely different instruments, the study showed that: (i) the scores were positively and significantly correlated; (ii) patterns of co‐variation of the ISAT and academic program scores demonstrate a positive relationship; and (iii) there is evidence that achieving a high score in the academic programs requires high reasoning skills, as measured by the ISAT. The findings of this study indicate that the ISAT is a useful predictor of student ability for use in the university selection process for international applicants.     

The Wrath of High-Stakes Tests

Testing has become an attractive option for policymakers both because it has the potential to affect the behavior of educators in the educational system and because it is often viewed by the public as a way to guarantee a basic level of quality education. Whatever the reasons, formal testing tied to grade promotion and graduation continues to spread throughout the United States. A qualitative narrative is provided regarding the importance of the preparation of three minority students, Snuffi, Jasmine, and Wanda, for their high-stakes mathematics test. Afterward a critique of high-stakes tests, particularly for minority students as a requirement for high school graduation in public school districts in this country is also provided. Implications are discussed for further research in mathematics education.     

Encouraging and Supporting Compliance with Standards for Educational Tests

Uses and consequences of educational testing have increased dramatically in recent years. Professional standards to ensure fair treatment of all affected by test results are more important than ever, but standards for developing and using educational tests are only helpful if they are followed. Test developers and users each have a role to play in meeting testing standards, but these roles have become less distinct as developers work more collaboratively with users, particularly states, to develop tests customized to user specifications. This paper explores various mechanisms for increasing compliance with testing standards through collaborative efforts, including (1) specifying adherence to test standards in contracts with test developers; (2) use of Technical Advisory Committee (TACS) to guide test development processes; (3) requiring compliance with test standards as part of the peer review process for state accountability programs; and (4) oversight by independent organizations .     

美国SAT的理念、方法、技术对我国高考改革的启示

2014年出台的高考改革方案在诸多方面发生重大变化,备受各方关注,其具体措施在解决既有问题的同时,也带来了新的问题。美国的SAT(学术能力评估测试(Scholastic Assessment Test)的简称,下同。)与我国高考性质相似,它的一些理念、经验、技术可供我们参考。理念上,SAT强调以人为本、关注未来;方法上,SAT保持考试内容与课程的适当联系、加强对现场材料的分析以应对"背模板"、题目设置情境化、通过高校指定必考科目解决某些科目过冷过热;技术上,SAT命题过程专业、计分方式科学、分数报告详尽。     

网络环境下诊断性测试在英语教学中的应用

科学有效的诊断性测试对网络环境下的英语教学与评估具有正面反拨效应。诊断性测试的结果可以成为判断和了解网络英语学习者的理解水平、表达障碍及其困难成因的重要依据。诊断性测试可体现学生网络学习的全过程,是实施英语素质教育的有效方法。     

从“高招联盟”看自主招生改革

“高校自主招生联盟”作为一项新的高校自主招生政策,受到了多方关注。作为一项新的探索,它有着自身的优势,同时也带来新的问题。文章以“高招联盟”为出发点,看自主招生改革的问题,并就改革需要把握的主旋律提出些许建议。