Chapter 1
Students as Learners
Course: Principles Of Learning And Teaching 5622
Subject: Principles Of Learning And Teaching
Chapter: Assessment
1. The types and purposes of standardized tests
a. The uses of the different types of standardized tests
Achievement – Measures what students already know based on curriculum or standards – Used to evaluate academic mastery and instructional effectiveness – Often aligned to grade-level or state learning objectives – Classroom example: A 4th-grade reading state exam shows whether students reached grade-level reading expectation
Aptitude – Measures student potential or readiness to learn new material – Focus is on capacity rather than prior instruction – Used to inform placement or identify advanced cognitive abilities – Classroom example: SAT or ACT aptitude components predicting readiness for college-level coursework
Ability – Measures general intellectual functioning and cognitive processing – Used for eligibility for gifted programs or special services – Classroom example: Cognitive ability scores used alongside teacher observations to determine gifted program placement