An article in the Sept. 14, 2009 New York Time points out that it seems to take fewer correct answers every year to pass state math tests. While the state argues that tests are not getting easier, it does give one pause to wonder if apparent gains in your school’s scores are real. This may be especially true for your lowest functioning students who take odd-year tests that feature only multiple choice items. Here is a quote from the article that should make you wonder.
A side effect of the adjustments in scoring is that on 5 of the 12 math and English tests this year, a student had a better-than-even chance of earning a Level 2 mark— a failing grade that reflects “partially meeting learning standards” — simply by guessing. On the sixth-grade English test, for instance, a student had an 89 percent chance of reaching Level 2 this year by randomly guessing, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
Click here to see the the entire article.
Wow Dr. Doug! Being able to easily put down guesses in tests is always a problem, it’s hard finding the balance between testing actual knowledge and educated guessing. And what are these levels? What happened to straight up percents? Sounds like it’s the cutting edge of primary test scoring in an extraordinarily boring way.