GENERAL
The two types of standardized tests
Achievement and Aptitude
What is central tendency?
Where the test scores are centered
The vast majority of standardized tests are ______ interpreted
Relatively
What is an instructionally diagnostic test?
A test that permits teachers to identify those students who need more or less instruction
What is the current function of the SAT?
To measure a high school student's readiness for college
When SOL test scores are publicized, they can be used to do what?
Assess educator's effectiveness
What is the definition of raw scores?
The number of items that a student has answered correctly
What do percentiles do?
Compare a student's score with those of other students in a norm group, indicates the percentage of students in the norm group a student outperformed
What must an instructionally diagnostic test have?
At least two strengths and/or weaknesses
What are the two sections on the SAT?
Mathematics and Critical reading/writing
In recent years, what types of questions have been added more to standardized tests?
Constructed response questions
What is the mean and median?
Mean: average of a set of scores
Median: middle point of a set of scores
Label the grade and month of the school year in the grade equivalent score:
3.8
Grade: 3
Month in school: 8
True or False
The results of an instructionally diagnostic test will be divided into large portions for teachers to figure out what to target next.
False, they need to be divided into grain size sections
Are students penalized for a wrong answer on the ACT?
No, they only get points for the correct answers
True or false: Standardized tests are administered by testing firms and state departments of education
True
How can the variability of scores be found?
Using range or standard deviation
How is a scale score system created?
By devising a brand-new numerical scale that's often very unlike the original raw-score scale
Name the four criteria that a good instructionally diagnostic test must follow
Curricular alignment, sufficiency of items, item quality, ease of usage
What is on the ACT but not the SAT?
The science portion
What are standardized tests used for?
To satisfy a gov. mandate for educational accountability
The larger the standard deviation, the more _____ between scores
Distance
What is the advantage of scale scores made using item response theory?
Helps teachers show students' growth from year to year
Should a test just have multiple choice answers?
No, if it did, it wouldn't meet the item quality criteria for instructionally diagnostic tests
Is the SAT and ACT a perfect way to assess how a student will do in college?
No, because only about 25 percent of academic success in college is associated with a high school student's performance on the SAT or ACT