The Effect of Introducing Third Graders to the Use of Separate Answer Sheets on the ITBS

Abstract

The effect of introducing third graders to the use of separate answer sheets on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) was investigated. Classes of third graders were administered 11 ITBS subscales under one of the following formats: (a) using separate answer sheets without prior practice; (b) using separate answer sheets with practice sessions; or (c) marking answers directly in the test booklet. Students using separate answer sheets without practice were found to score significantly lower than students answering in the test booklet. When the two separate answer sheet conditions were compared, the group with prior practice scored significantly higher than the group without practice. The largest differences occurred with the lower-ability students in this sample, suggesting that these students were both the most adversely affected by the use of separate answer sheets without practice, and the most helped by the practice sessions.