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INTRODUCTION
As a teacher one is involved directly in the evaluation of the learner. Teachers
teach and help the learners to learn. The learning that takes place is assessed or
evaluated not only for the learner's benefit but also for the teacher to evaluate his own
work.
At the end of a lesson or a group of lessons, the teacher needs to get feedback
on what the learner has achieved, as a result of the teacher's efforts and also, indirectly
to assess his own achievement as a teacher. This feedback comes with the help of a
tool, generally an achievement test.
Achievement test is an important tool in school and college evaluation and has
a great significance in measuring instructional progress and progress of the students in
the subject area.
Achievement means one's learning attainments, Accomplishments,
proficiencies, etc. It is directly related to pupil's growth and development in
educational situations where teaching and learning are intended to..... so on…..
DEFINITION
Achievement Test is a test that measures the extent to which a person has
"achieved" something, acquired certain information, or mastered certain skills -
usually as a result of planned instruction or training.
According to Throndike and Hagen – “The type of ability test that describes what a
person has learned to do.”
1) The principles available tests will have to be kept in view so that a test can be
planned.
2) The purpose and objectives of test must be defined.
3) It should be decided when the test has to be conducted in the context of time and
frequency.
4) It should be determined how many questions have to be included in the test.
5) It should be determined what types of questions have to be used in the test.
6) Be sure that all important content areas are covered.
7) Those topics should be determined from which questions have to be constructed.
This decision is taken keeping in view the teaching objectives.
8) The level of difficulty of questions should be decided at the beginning of the test.
9) It should be determined if any correction has to be carried out for guessing.
10) Use simple and clear language
11) The format and type of printing should be decided in advance.
12) It should be determined what should be the passing score.
13) In order to control the personal bias of the examiner there should be a provision for
central evaluation. A particular question should be checked by the same examiner.
14) Provide clear, concise and complete directions to the pupils.
15) Allot time appropriately.
16) Maintain confidentiality in test construction.
17) A rule book should be prepared before the evaluation of the scripts.
STEPS OF ACHIEVEMENT TEST CONSTRUCTION
To construct an achievement test the steps referred below if followed will make the
test objective, reliable and valid -
FIRST STEP: INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVE
Selected
Reason for
Teaching Objectives Teaching
Selections
Objectives
1) All objectives of the cognitive domain 1) Knowledge
(knowledge, comprehension, application,
analysis, synthesis, evaluation)
2) Comprehension
2) All objectives of the affective domain
(receiving, responding, valuing,
3) Application
conceptualization)
(Drawing)
3) All skills of psychomotor domain (drawing skill,
computational skill, constructional skill,
observational skill, problem-solving skill)
SECOND STEP: DESIGN
Weightage to Content:
Content is used as the means of realizing objectives and questions have to be
constructed on its basis. Therefore, it becomes necessary to give Weightage to it.
There is distinction in the nature, importance and scope of each topic. Therefore, the
Weightage should be given to these facts in view; else the test would not represent the
whole subject.
Determining Alternatives:
At this level, it is determined how many alternatives or options should be given
according to the type of questions. Giving alternatives influences the reliability and
validity of a test; therefore, it is suggested that alternatives should not be given in
objective type questions, while in essay type questions only internal choice can be
given.
Division of Sections
If the scope or types of questions is uniform, them it is not necessary to divide the test
into sections. However, if it is diverse and different types of questions have been
specified and the nature of the test seems to be heterogeneous, then a separate section
should be made comprising each type of item.
Estimation of Time:
At this step estimation of the total time the whole test is likely to calculate. Time is
estimated on the basis of type and number of items. Some time should be reserved for
distribution and collection of answer sheets. The following table can be used for
convenience.
Teaching comprehensio
S.N. Knowledge Application Skill Total
Objective n
Types of
Question
(L) (S) (O) (L) (S) (O) (L) (S) (O) (L) (S) (O)
Topic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
L- Long Answers Type S- Short Answers Type O-Objective Answers Type
Forth Step: Writing of the Questions
After the finalization of the blueprint is writing appropriate questions in
accordance with the broad parameters set out in the blueprint. One should take one
small block of the blueprint at a time and write out the required questions. Thus, for
each block of blueprint which is filled in, questions have got to be written one by one.
Once it is done, we have all the questions meeting the necessary requirements laid
down in the blueprint. While selecting each small block for writing a question, you
can proceed in several ways.
1. Either writing all questions (one by one) belonging to one objective at a time i.e.
Knowledge or understanding or application Followed by other objectives, or
2. By taking up questions according-to their form or type i.e. Essay Type followed by
Short Answer and objective Type or in any other order, or
3. By writing questions for one unit of the syllabus or portion to be covered by the
test at a time.
In the context of difficulty level, the following difficulty levels are suggested for the
selection of questions as per Katz (1959) also recommendation-
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
There are mainly three kinds of questions –
1) Essay type,
2) Short answer type: - They can be grouped into two broad categories:
a) Extended Answer Type
b) Insert and Completion Type
3) Objective type,
a) Simple Recall
b) Multiple Choices
c) True-False
d) Matching Block
ADMINISTRATION OF AN ACHIEVEMENT TEST
Having prepared a good test, we should plan to administer it in such a way that, each
of our Students will do best.
It plays a vital role in enhancing the reliability of test scorers. Test should be
administer in a congenial environment strictly as per instructions planned assure
uniformity of conclusions to all the people tested.
1) Time Schedule
Be sure we plan our time schedule carefully, ensuring teacher and pupil readiness.
Much preparation may be done a day before. It will be wise to schedule enough time
for briefing the invigilators.
If there is a deadline for finishing and leaving the room, be especially sure to plan for
adequate time at the end for the things which must be done. Even with a small class
these take five to ten minutes, and with a large group they may take at least fifteen
minutes. A hasty wind-up may result in non-fulfillment of the objectives of the test, or
other disasters.
2) The Room
It is important for any examination to provide a quiet, comfortable atmosphere, in
which the students are encouraged to do their best. As much as possible, try to test in a
quiet place with a minimum of distracting noises. Avoid rooms near cafeterias,
important hallways, playing fields or other noisy places. Request nearby loudspeaker
owners to shut them off for the duration of the examination hours. Hang signs on the
door, saying "EXAMINATION IN PROGRESS: DO NOT DISTURB". Objective
examinations generally require more intense concentration than essay type exams. The
latter demand an excess of physical endurance (trying to write fast enough to keep up
with one's thoughts). Objective tests require constant, careful and critical thinking and
reasoning, with a minimum of physical work.
3) Desk
The students will be writing on a single - thickness answer sheet so the writing
surfaces are at least 30 x 38 cm, and as smooth as possible. If there are cracks or
scratches a student's pencil may push through the answer sheet, spoiling it and making
it hard to mark. Also be sure the room is clear of any charts, posters, etc. that might
help some candidates.
4) Equipment
The necessary equipment taken by the examiner in the examination hall are – chalk,
Board, poster, notice board pencil etc. The examiner should have a check-list of
required equipment, to ensure what you will have to take with in the examination hall.
5) Invigilators
For examination, we will probably need the help of one or more invigilators. The
invigilator should have willing to give their full attention to the task. Invigilators
should not talk, react, correct papers or does any other work during the examination
time. They should observe closely, circulating constantly, checking that the students
are answering in the right place, not copying etc. However, they should not hover too
long over any student, as this makes the examinee nervous.
1) Order of Scoring
For objective tests separate answer sheets are provided, the scorer may score a
given page in all booklets first, then the next page, and so on, rather than scoring
all of one booklet before going on to the next.
For essay tests may be desirable to have one person score all answers to the first
question, then to the second, and so on.
If so many booklets must be scored that several scorers are needed, each person
may specialize on a given page or group of pages of the booklet but should score
only one page in all booklets at a time.
2) Scoring errors
"Constant” errors can be due to failure to understand scoring directions, with
resultant scores which are consistently too low or too high.
"Variable" errors can be due to carelessness in marking, adding, computing, or
transcribing scores.
These errors warrant
o The careful training and instruction of scorers and
o The rescoring of at least a sample of any group of test booklets or answer
sheets.
3) Rescoring
With a large number of booklets to be scored and sufficient help available, it is
always worthwhile to rescore them so as to eliminate errors that otherwise are
almost inevitable in a clerical task like this.
If complete rescoring is not feasible every fifth or tenth booklet should be rescored
to get a rough idea of the frequency and magnitude of scoring errors.
Rescoring a sample sometimes uncovers such an inaccuracy as to make it desirable
to rescore the remainder.
4) Keeping Records
As soon as possible after the tests have been administered, the answer sheet should
be checked and scored, and the scores should be recorded on the permanent
records of the school. Each teacher should be given copies of the score reports for
the pupils in class. Usually schools have some type of permanent record for each
pupil which provides space for recording standardized test results.
The records must be indicated: test title, form of the test, date when the test was
given, the raw score or standard score, and percentile rank under properly
identified captions. When percentile ranks are reported, the group on which the
norms were based should be identified - for example, national, state, district, local,
or other group -and die nature of the group should be specified.
GRADES
Grading is the system of classifying students into a few ability groups or categories
according to their level of achievement in an examination. The achievement is defined
in the form of numerical or letter grades, each of which denotes a certain level of
performance, generally not in absolute terms but in relation to the performance of the
whole group.
There are two approaches to formation of groups that define the grades -
For example, the top 5% students may be given grade A; the next 10% grade B and so
on. Here the actual cut-off score for grade A in one subject may be quite different
from that of another subject. In this case the grade that a student gets depends on his
/her relative performance, that is, on what his/her marks are in relation to the marks of
others.
Advantages
In general when we talk of grading it is only the type of grading based on relative
marks that we have in mind. These grades arc expressed in the form of letters A, B, C
etc. The following are the main advantages of such grading:
1) With the same uniform pattern being adopted for all subjects, grading would
provide Achievement Tests better comparability of the results of different years in
the same subject.
2) Grading is essentially based on rank ordering of students. Studies have shown that
agreement among examiners on ranks to be awarded to examinees is much more in
this than on absolute marks. Hence grades based on rank order in general, are more
reliable.
3) There is greater comparability among subjects when grades are used. When there
is a choice of subjects, students need not avoid the subjects which are considered
low scoring. Even with a so called low scoring subject, the proportion of students
getting a grade would be nearly the same as in a so called high scoring subject
4) Grades in different subjects in an examination provide a meaningful profile of the
achievement of a student. Unlike marks, one can easily find out in which subjects
the performance is outstanding, good, fair or poor. With marks, one can arrive at
such inference only on knowing what the range, average and dispersion are of the
marks in the different subjects.
SUMMARY
Achievement test is the test which measures the amount of learning of student
after completing a particular learning program. It helps to evaluate how effectively the
student is performing in the theory as well as the clinical areas and according to his
performance a particular score or grading is assigned to the student. There are various
steps which are included in construction of achievement test such as -: Instructional
Objective, design, Preparation of Blueprint, Writing of the Questions, Marking
Scheme, questioning, analysis and preparation of final list. It is very important that the
achievement test should be valid, reliable, and practical and should be suitably
planned by keeping all the objectives and purposes in mind.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) Neerja, K.P., Text Book of Nursing Education, First Edition (Reprint – 2008),
Jaypee Brothers, New Delhi, Page No. 415-419.
2) Basavanthappa, B.T. “Nursing education” Jaypee Brother, New Delhi, First
Edition (reprint 2004), 494-496.
3) Marilyn H. Oermann and Kathleen B. Gaberson, “Evaluation and Testing in
Nursing Education”, Springer Publishing Company, New York 3rd Edition page
no. – 32-37
4) Kapoor, Bimla & Handa, Uma; Nursing Education And Research; Block-2
Curriculum Development And Implementation; First Edition (Reprint 2001) Ignou
New Delhi, Page No.123-124
5) Kapoor, Bimla & Handa, Uma; Nursing Education And Research; Practical
Manual-1 Nursing Education And Research; First Edition (Reprint 2001) Ignou
New Delhi, Page No. 102-115
6) Hawaii Department of Education. Assessment Terminology, from
http://www.k12.hi.us/~atr/evaluation/glossary.htm
7) University of Wisconsin–Stout. Glossary. , from
http://faculty.uwstout.edu/lawlerm/at101/glossary.shtml
8) Achievement test; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achievement_test
9) What is an Achievement Test? ; From Wise GEEK
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-achievement-test.htm
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