Studies in assessment

Conclusion

The pilot studies, and that includes the more recent 1986 study which involved 22 schools, have done much to convince teachers and educators in this State that the ‘practical’ mode in biology can be assessed satisfactorily using the processes described. The performance data, the teachers responses and the test/re-test procedures tend to confirm the reliability, validity and usability of the practical examination, in spite of inital doubts by many teachers in that regard. How the results of the practical examination are used remains to be decided. They could be used alone or in conjunction with marks obtained from continuous assessment of practical work done over the year. They could be used directly or as a moderating instrument only. In view of the recent decision by the subject committee to allocate a considerable percentage of the overall mark to practical work, specifically (25%), it seems highly likely that the results may well be used directly. The strategies employed in this study may well be appropriate to physics, chemistry and geology, though the choice of criteria to be tested, the form of the Practical Test Assessment Inventory and the marking scheme may need to be substantially modified for those particluar subjects.