High-Stakes Testing in Education
Value, fairness and consequences
By Gordon Stobart, Theo J.H.M Eggen | Publisher: Taylor and Francis
About the book
High-stakes educational testing is a global phenomenon which is increasing in both scale and importance. Assessments are high-stakes when there are serious consequences for one or more stakeholders. Historically, tests have largely been used for selection or for providing a ‘licence to practise’, making them high-stakes for the test takers. Testing is now also used for the purposes of improving standards of teaching and learning and of holding schools accountable for their students’ results. These tests then become high-stakes for teachers and schools, especially when they have to meet externally imposed targets. More recent has been the emergence of international comparative testing, which has become high-stakes for governments and policy makers as their education systems are judged in relation to the performances of other countries.
In this book we draw on research which examines each of these uses of high-stakes testing. The articles evaluate the impact of such assessments and explore the issues of value and fairness which they raise. To underline the international appeal of high-stakes testing the studies are drawn from Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, former Soviet republics and North America. Collectively they illustrate the power of high-stakes assessment in shaping, for better or for worse, policy making and schooling.
This book was originally published as a special issue of Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.
Editions of High-Stakes Testing in Education
- EBook
- ISBN 9781317682127
- PDF
- ISBN 9781317682134
Read an Excerpt
High-stakes educational testing is a global phenomenon which is increasing in both scale and importance. Assessments are high-stakes when there are serious consequences for one or more stakeholders. Historically, tests have largely been used for selection or for providing a ‘licence to practise’, making them high-stakes for the test takers. Testing is now also used for the purposes of improving standards of teaching and learning and of holding schools accountable for their students’ results. These tests then become high-stakes for teachers and schools, especially when they have to meet externally imposed targets. More recent has been the emergence of international comparative testing, which has become high-stakes for governments and policy makers as their education systems are judged in relation to the performances of other countries.
In this book we draw on research which examines each of these uses of high-stakes testing. The articles evaluate the impact of such assessments and explore the issues of value and fairness which they raise. To underline the international appeal of high-stakes testing the studies are drawn from Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, former Soviet republics and North America. Collectively they illustrate the power of high-stakes assessment in shaping, for better or for worse, policy making and schooling.
This book was originally published as a special issue of Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is High-Stakes Testing in Education about?
High-stakes educational testing is a global phenomenon which is increasing in both scale and importance. Assessments are high-stakes when there are serious consequences for one or more stakeholders. Historically, tests have largely been used for selection or for providing a ‘licence to practise’, making them high-stakes for the test takers. Testing is now also used for the purposes of improving standards of teaching and learning and of holding schools accountable for their students’ results. These tests then become high-stakes for teachers and schools, especially when they have to meet externally imposed targets. More recent has been the emergence of international comparative testing, which has become high-stakes for governments and policy makers as their education systems are judged in relation to the performances of other countries.
In this book we draw on research which examines each of these uses of high-stakes testing. The articles evaluate the impact of such assessments and explore the issues of value and fairness which they raise. To underline the international appeal of high-stakes testing the studies are drawn from Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, former Soviet republics and North America. Collectively they illustrate the power of high-stakes assessment in shaping, for better or for worse, policy making and schooling.
This book was originally published as a special issue of Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in High-Stakes Testing in Education?
Society and Social Sciences > Education / Educational sciences / Pedagogy > Educational systems and structures > Education: examinations and assessment
Where can I read a sample of High-Stakes Testing in Education?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317682127
Who is/are the Author/s of the book High-Stakes Testing in Education?
Gordon Stobart, Theo J.H.M Eggen
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
High-Stakes Testing in Education is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317682127) and pdf(ISBN 9781317682134)