Exam 15: Standardized Tests and Teaching

Richard has just received the scores from the standardized test administered by his school. He blames the test. Because English is his second language, the wording on the test was unfamiliar to him, and this was the main reason he could not get the correct answers. Richard's complaint stems from what problem with some standardized tests?

Which of the following scores is expressed as a deviation from a mean?

When administering a standardized test to students, it is important for the teacher to communicate a positive attitude and to describe the nature and purpose of the test.

According to No Child Left Behind, all teachers now are required to be "highly qualified"; however, this information is to be kept strictly confidential by the schools.

What type of learning is associated with performance assessments?

Which of the following is not one of the benefits of using high-stakes testing?

At a local meeting of the PTA, a parent complains about the use of a state-mandated test to determine college eligibility. She is concerned that this would lead to students from select groups being denied the opportunity to go to college. What is the general emphasis of her concern?

Martin gets consistently low scores on intelligence tests, but these scores severely underestimate his intelligence because he gets extremely nervous and is unable to answer the questions. In Martin's case, the tests are best described as which of the following?

An administrator wants to determine whether a ninth-grade biology class in one district is comparable in difficulty level and content to a ninth-grade biology class in another district. Which of the following approaches would provide the most valid comparison?

Which of the following best captures the purpose of an aptitude test?

What are diagnostic tests?

Within NCLB legislation, schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two consecutive years are labeled "underperforming." All of the following statements concerning underperforming schools are true, except which one?

Giving specific examples, how would you assess students' learning?

According to No Child Left Behind, if underperforming schools don't improve after four years, states are required to implement major staff and curriculum changes in the schools, and if progress is not made after five years, states must close the schools.

What is the mean and standard deviation of a z-score?

What is the most effective way to assess students' learning?

The new state-mandated test is on the faculty meeting's agenda. You take out your notepad and begin to jot down concerns you have about such testing. What do you write?

Reliability refers to the extent to which a test does which of the following?

For what purposes do you see standardized tests used most often?

According to the No Child Left Behind legislation, schools must show adequate yearly progress (AYP); otherwise, states will close schools that don't achieve AYP after five years. Which of the following illustrates the best reason for why it can be difficult to achieve AYP?