educational testing and assessment (note)

Educational Testing and Assessment
1.Testing and assessment are integral components of teaching and learning.
2.Two views of testing and assessment.They are the a)functional view and b)structural perspective.
a)Functional view-There are 3 functions of testing and assessment:
:i)placement :Beginning of testing to place students.
ii)diagnostic :to monitor/gauge effectiveness of teaching and monitor students progress.
iii)formative : testing done periodically during a course of study
summative: testing done at the end of a course of study

b)Structural view-normative assessment(normal distribution-‘the bell curve’)
ctiterion referenced assessment.

3.Methods of Testing and Assessment
The most common ones are as follows:
i)Examination-testing students under controlled conditions.
-test students retention of knowledge and comprehension.
ii)Observation-measuring skills and competencies.
-process and behaviours
iii)Continuous Assessment-assess students performance throughout the course.
-portfolio. The learner centred and mastery learning approaches usually employ this method of assessment as part of the testing and assessment process.
iv) Project Paper/Report Writing-A test that involves the student.This method of assessment measures both process and product and is a learner centred.

4.History of Testing and Assessment in Malaysia
Based on the recommendations of the Razak Report(1956),the Examination Unit was formed in the same year.
In 1957,it was renamed Examination Syndicate(Lembaga Peperiksaan).
In 1978,the Examination Syndicate took over from the Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate the responsibility for the Malaysian Certificate of Education(MCE).
There are 4 major national examinations.They are (a)Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah)at the end of the primary level(UPSR).(b)Penilaian Menengah Rendah(PMR)at the end of the lower secondary schooling,(c)Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia(SPM) at the end of the secondary level,(d)Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia(STPM) for the upper secondary level and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia(STAM) for religious school leavers at the upper secondary level.There is also Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (ulangan)(SPM[U])for repeat SPM candidates.