1. Standardized Test Overview
TCH 345 Assessment & Evaluation Strategies
Han Liu, Ph.D.
Department of Teacher Education
Shippensburg University

2. What it is Standardized Test?
Large number of students across the nation, a region, a state, or a district, take the test:
Using same/similar sets of exercises
Administering the test under approximately the same conditions
Applying uniform scoring procedures
Following uniform formula to interpret test results

3. Uses of Standardized Tests
Compare results across large student population for important decisions
Test students’ achievement or their aptitude or intelligence
Decide K-12 students promotion & graduation
Decide college admission
Predict student future success
Decide scholarship recipients
Evaluate teacher performance
Evaluate instruction/school management intervention
Funnel resources to where needed

4. Users of Standardized Tests
Typically, standardized tests meet the once-a-year information needs of:
School leaders
Policy makers
Instructional program designers
Teacher, Student, Parent
The society

5. Major Steps in Developing Standardized Test
Clarifying achievement targets – Goals and standards based on grade level and subject areas (knowledge, reasoning, performance, products, and dispositions in relation to specific contents)
Translating those targets into assessments –Matching targets with methods, creating test specification blue print
Developing test items – Create a test bank of valid testing items in various formats
Assembling and evaluating the test for soundness – verify validity and reliability and modify test items through pilot study
Administering the test - - Define conditions for the test, such as how long the test takes, what are the grading guidelines, and how to report test results – norm-referenced or criterion-referenced

6. Standardized Test Developers
Professional Test Developers
ETS (Educational Testing Service)
SAT
GRE
PRAXIS
Professional Testing
Pearson
Test Publisher
State Department of Educaton
Through contracts
PSSA

7. PA Teachers Care about Most…
PRAXIS
SAS (Standards Aligned System)
PSSA
PSSA Anchors and Scoring Samplers

8. Sample standardized TestsIQ
PRAXIS
SAT
ACT
TOEFL
GRE
PSSA (Pennsylvania School System Assessment)
CAT (California Achievement Test)

9. Layers of Standardized Tests
College Admissions Testing – 1930s
SAT, ACT
District Wide Testing –1940s
Statewide Testing – Since 1960s
PSSA
National Assessment – 1970s
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP)
International Assessment
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
National Every-Pupil Testing – 2001
No Child Left Behind Act
AYP (Adequate yearly Progress)

10. NCLB Law and Assessment
In 2001 national every-pupil testing was enacted through the No Child Left Behind Act.
NCLB requires each state to design or select an assessment yielding results that can be used to classify students into performance. (PA: PSSA)
The law requires every state to administer annually a standardized achievement test to every student in grades 3-8 (recently this law has been extended through high school).

11. NCLB Law and Assessment
Results are reported by school district and by ethnic group to the public and used by states to demonstrate whether students are making adequate yearly progress (AYP).
State school systems will be held accountable for making AYP. So it is called High stake test.
Those schools labeled as "failing" receive both special attention and possible sanctions if their failing rates continue.

12. Issues in Standardized Testing
Can standardized college admission test predict student future success?
Does international assessment accurately measure student real academic performance?
Does standardized test provide fair measurements for all learners?
Standardized tests
Encourage rote learning
Lead to “teach to the test” classroom practice
Lead to cheating
Lead to grade inflation
Impair student’s creativity

13. Reference