Standardised tests: What are they?

In one of our previous articles we talked about the purpose of testing. That it should never be done when the purpose for doing it is not clear. So standardised testing is done for entirely different purpose from others. Standards are part of our daily lives! Public transport has standard seats – there are no small, medium, or big seats yet we are of different sizes. Preparing seswaa has a standard way of doing it. So what really is a standardised test?

A test is said to be standardised when it ( 1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same way, and that ( 2) is scored in a “standard” or consistent manner, ( 3) which makes it possible to compare the relative sure a person’s ability to acquire, performance of individual learnthrough future training, some ers or groups of learners. Because specific set of skills or a test that it compares learners, a stanattempts to determine whether a

Requirements

dardised test is often interpreted person is trainable or not, before in a norm- referenced manner. incurring unnecessary costs.

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In most cases, standardised Those who are old enough will tests involve multiple- choice remember the science aptitude questions, short- answer questests that were written by form tions, true- false questions, essay 5’ s to select learners for enrol

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questions, or a mix of question ment in PESC Programme at the types. However, they may involve University of Botswana. Aptitude

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structured questions or essays. tests are “forward- looking” in that These require the use of a stanthey typically attempt to forecast

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dardised criteria for scoring to or predict how well students will promote fairness and objectivity do in a future educational or

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of scoring. career setting Standardised tests may be used A diagnostic test is a test that

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for a wide variety of educational determines how much learners purposes and it is important for know of a particular topic before

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educators to know when to use subjecting them to instruction. such. There are different types It is administered formatively as of standardised tests such as a pre- test to determine learners’ achievement tests, aptitude tests strengths, weaknesses, knowland diagnostics tests. Tests such edge, and skills and as a post- test

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as end of month, end of term, test to determine how much they national examinations, national have gained after instruction. The assessments, are examples of teacher uses pre- test information standardized tests. to guide lesson planning and de

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An achievement test is a test set vising appropriate instructional from material/ content which was strategies for learners.

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taught to the learners in school, Join us in our next article, when e. g. a monthly test. It is designed we shall be talking about classto measure the learners’ knowlroom testing and how it differs

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edge and skills or to determine from standardised testing. the academic progress they have The Author holds PhD in ‘ As

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made over a period of time. The sessment & Quality Assurance’

tests may also be used to evaluate and writes in his personal capac

the effectiveness of schools and ity as a Psychometric Researcher.

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An aptitude test is a test that masoletm@ gmail. com or face

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