ADMINISTERING, SCORING AND REPORTING A TEST
INTRODUCTION:
Administering the written test is perhaps the most important aspect of the examining
process. The atmosphere the test administrator creates in the test room and the attitude the
test administrator displays in performing his/her duties is extremely important.
The test administrator's manner, bearing, and attitude may well inspire confidence in
competitors and put them at ease while participating in the testing process.
ADMINISTERING A TEST:
A teacher's test administration procedures can have great impact on student test
performance.
Before the test
After Distributing Test Papers
During the Test
After the Test
SCORING:
It means to evaluate and assign a grade.
Report: A document containing information organized in a narrative, graphic, or tabular
form, prepared on ad hoc, periodic, recurring, regular, or as required basis.
TYPES OF SCORE
Raw Scores:
A Raw Score is simply the number of questions a student answers correctly for a test.
Uses:
A raw score provides an indication of the variability in performance among students in a
classroom.
Limitations:
A raw score by itself has no meaning. It can be interpreted only by comparing it with some
standard such as total number of items for a test or with raw scores earned by a comparison
group.
Percentile Rank:
A percentile is a measure that tells us what percent of the total frequency scored at or below
that measure. A percentile rank is the percentage of scores that fall at or below a given
score.
Advantages:
Laypeople easily understand them
Easy to interpret
Limitations:
Percentile differences are not equal
Stanine (Standard nine)
Standard nine:
Stanine scores express test results in equal steps that range from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest).
The average is a score of 5. In general, stanine scores 1,2 & 3 are below average, 4,5 & 6 are
average and 7, 8 & 9 are above average
Standard Scores
The standard scores indicate a student's relative position in a group. It expresses test
performance in terms of standard deviation units from the mean.
The mean is the arithmetical average. The standard deviation is a measure of the
spread of scores in a group.
Types of standard Scores
Z-Score
If a mean and standard deviation can be calculated for a given set of raw scores, each
raw scores can be expressed in terms of its distance from the mean in standard
deviation units or z-scores.
Z-Score = Raw Score -Mean/Standard deviation
Note: Z-score is always minus when the raw score is smaller than the mean.
T Scores:
Any set of normally distributed standard scores that has a mean of 50 and SD of 10.
Multiplying the z-score by 10 and adding the product to 50 can obtain T Scores.
Advantages
Only positive integers are provided
Interpretation is relatively simple once the concept of T-Score is grasped.
GRADING:-
Grading refers to the process of using symbols, such as letter to indicate various types of
students progress (Nitko 2001).
Common Methods of Grading:
Letter grades:
There is a great flexibility in the number of grades that can be adopted i.e. 3-11.
Limitations:
Meaning of grades may vary widely
Do not describe strengths/weakness of students
Strengths:
Easy to use
Easy to interpret theoretically
Provide a concise summary
Number/Percentage grades
(5, 3, 2, 1, 0) or (98%, 80%, 60% etc.)
It is same as letter grades. Only difference is that instead of letters numbers of
percentage is used.
Strengths:
Easy to use
Easy to interpret theoretically
Provide a concise summary
May be combined with letter grades
More continuous than letter grades
Limitations:
Meaning of grades may vary widely
Do not describe strengths/weaknesses of students
Meaning may need to be explained or interpreted.
Two category grades
It is good for courses require mastery of learning.
Strengths:
Less emotional for students.
Limitations:
Less reliable
Does not contain enough information about student's achievement
Provides no indication of the level of learning.
CHECK LIST AND RATING SCALE
They are more detailed and since they are too detailed it is cumbersome for teachers to
prepare
Strengths:
Present detailed lists of students' achievements
Can be combined with letter grades
Good for clinical evaluation
Limitations:
May become too detailed to easily comprehend
Difficult for record keeping.
Advantages of Grades
Grades are divided in to 5 - 7 divisions to which student's performance is assigned as
compared to 101 (0-100) divisions of conventional marking.
It is a convenient method.
Chances of errors are minimized
Disadvantages of Grades:
The assigned grades varies from teacher to teacher
Do not indicate students strengths or weaknesses
Foster unfair competition among students.
Scoring Essay type Questions:
Evaluating essay response the evaluator should:
Evaluator should use appropriate method to minimize bias
Pay attention to the significant and relevant aspects of the answer
Be careful not to let personal idiosyncrasy affect assessment
Apply uniform standard to all the……….
Method of grading essay type question:
Analytical grading: (Point method)
In this method of the ideal answer to a question is specified in advance, although need not
be in the amplitude the ideal or model answer is broken down into………….
ADVANTAGES:
It can yield very reliable scores
The preparation of detailed answer may bring to the teachers.
The sub division of the model answer can make it easier to discuss with the students
the marks awarded to them.
LIMITATIONS:
It is very laborious and time consuming
In attempting to identify the elements, undue attention may be given to the specific
aspect.
Global grading:
In this method the ideal answer is not sub divided into the specific points and component
points. The examiner is interacted to read the responses rapidly from a general impression
and using some standard and standard assign
Sequential Grading:
In order to bring more objectivity more answers can be scored beautifully. This is the same
teacher valuing answer of a particular question.
Computer Software
The "Software" learns a specific subject area by scanning appropriate documents. Then, the
software is fed graded essays to set up the grading standards.
Scoring Objective Tests
Hand graded:
Due to human effort, mistakes may occur. Having two graders grade exams help to catch
90% of those simple mistakes in grading.
Machine Scoring:
As accurate as the answer code given to the computer.
Some testing publishers will only release or sell their products to individuals who
have undergone special training or have a particular degree in a related field.
