Achievement tests are commonly used for the purpose of:
Assessing the amount of learning after teaching
Tests are classified by what they are designed to measure and when they are administered, so the answer depends on what an achievement test is built to capture.
An achievement test measures how much a learner has actually mastered of what has been taught. It is administered after instruction and is tied to the content and objectives of the course, so its purpose is assessing the amount of learning that has taken place after teaching. Classroom unit tests, term examinations and board examinations are all achievement tests in this sense.
Selection for a specific job and selection of candidates for a course both look forward rather than back: they are concerned with predicting future performance, which is the work of aptitude tests measuring potential rather than achievement tests measuring past attainment. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of learners is closer, but that is the specific purpose of a diagnostic test, which probes particular difficulties in order to remedy them, whereas an achievement test gives an overall measure of attainment.
The distinction worth holding on to is that aptitude looks ahead, diagnosis looks into specific weaknesses, and achievement looks back at what has been learned.
Hence achievement tests are commonly used for assessing the amount of learning after teaching.
Similar Questions
In the following two sets, set I mentions the evaluation system while set II gives their descriptive features. Match the two sets
Set I (Evaluation system)
(a) Formative evaluation
(b) Summative evaluation
(c) Norm-referenced testing
(d) criterion-referenced testing
Set II (Descriptive features)
(i) Comparing the student's performance with that of others
(ii) Indicating standards of mastery
(iii) Diagnosing scope for improvement
(iv) identifying scope for improvement
(v) Judging learning standards
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:What are the characteristics of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation?
(a) It increases the workload on students by taking multiple tests.
(b) It replaces marks with grades.
(c) It evaluates every aspect of the student.
(d) It helps in reducing examination phobia.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
The main objectives of student evaluation of teachers are:
(a) To gather information about student weaknesses.
(b) To make teachers take teaching seriously.
(c) To help teachers adopt innovative methods of teaching.
(d) To identify the areas of further improvement in teacher traits.
Identify the correct answer from the codes given below:
Match the items of the first set with that of the second set in respect of evaluation system. Choose the correct code :
Set – I Set – II a. Formative evaluation i. Evaluating cognitive and co-cognitive aspects with regularity b. Summative evaluation ii. Tests and their interpretations based on a group and certain yardsticks c. Continuous and comprehensive evaluation iii. Grading the final learning outcomes d. Norm and criterion referenced tests iv. Quizzes and discussions Codes :
Important Questions from Evaluation Systems
- "Curriculum Evaluation depends on casual observation implicit goals, intuitive norms and subjective judgement" is the core idea behind which evaluation model ?
- Besides knowing the effectiveness of an instructional programme, evaluation is directed towards the improvement of the ____________
In the following two sets, set I mentions the evaluation system while set II gives their descriptive features. Match the two sets
Set I (Evaluation system)
(a) Formative evaluation
(b) Summative evaluation
(c) Norm-referenced testing
(d) criterion-referenced testing
Set II (Descriptive features)
(i) Comparing the student's performance with that of others
(ii) Indicating standards of mastery
(iii) Diagnosing scope for improvement
(iv) identifying scope for improvement
(v) Judging learning standards
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:What are the characteristics of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation?
(a) It increases the workload on students by taking multiple tests.
(b) It replaces marks with grades.
(c) It evaluates every aspect of the student.
(d) It helps in reducing examination phobia.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
The main objectives of student evaluation of teachers are:
(a) To gather information about student weaknesses.
(b) To make teachers take teaching seriously.
(c) To help teachers adopt innovative methods of teaching.
(d) To identify the areas of further improvement in teacher traits.
Identify the correct answer from the codes given below:
