Achievement tests that assess general language skills, arithmetic skills, and reading comprehension.

The Metropolitan Achievement Tests feature a battery of group-administered achievement tests that assess general language and arithmetic skills, and reading comprehension. Results are often given as grade equivalents (such as Instructional Reading Level, or IRL, which indicates the optimal reading level at which a student can learn). The tests are administered at all grade levels, KI 2, and can last from 1-½ hours (kindergarten) to over four hours for grades 6-12. The complete assessment battery covers five disciplines: reading, mathematics, language (i.e.writing), science, and social studies. The reading test includes a vocabulary component and a comprehension section consisting of passages followed by multiple-choice questions. The mathematics test includes a section on concepts and problem solving which assesses mastery of strategies including estimating, classification, working backwards, finding a pattern, reasoning logically, and using probability. The procedures portion of the mathematics test (not always included) consists of computation both with and without a context. The language test gives the student a writing task to complete for a specific audience, with the main steps in the writing process—prewriting (brainstorming, organizing, etc.), composing, and editing—built into the test. The Metropolitan Achievement Test's science portion stresses process skills and reasoning ability within life science, physical science, and earth science, with minimal emphasis on memorization of facts. The test contains illustrations including traditional laboratory activities and equipment, charts, and graphs. The social studies test includes questions on geography, history, culture, political science, and economics, and emphasizes critical thinking and research skills.

For Further Study

Books

Hart, Diane. Authentic Assessment: A Handbook for Educators. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1994.

McCullough, Virginia. Testing and Your Child: What You Should Know About 150 of the Most Common Medical, Educational, and Psychological Tests. New York: Plume, 1992.