Achievement Test

WHAT IS ACHIEVEMENT TEST?
Achievement tests are exams that are designed to determine the degree of knowledge and proficiency exhibited by an individual in a specific area or set of areas.


WHAT IS THE PURPOSE ACHIEVEMENT TEST?
An achievement test is sometimes administered as part of the acceptance process into an educational program or to qualify an individual for employment or a promotion with a current employer. In other applications, the achievementtest serves as a tool to measure current knowledge levels for the purpose of placing students in an educational environment where they have the chance to advance at a pace that is suitable for their abilities.
It is not unusual for public school systems to utilize achievement testing to identify students who are prepared to move on to more advanced courses of study or who need some type of remedial instruction. The idea behind using an achievementtest format to measure the grade level for each student is not intended to reflect on the general intelligence of the individual. Rather, the purpose of the testing is to ensure each student is placed in a classroom situation where there is the best opportunity for learn and assimilate data in an organized fashion that prepares them for moving on to more advanced material.

THE EXAMPLE CASE OF ACHIEVEMENT TEST
A student who does not do well with basic mathematics on an achievementtest is likely to be placed in a remedial learning situation. Doing so provides the student with the opportunity to master the basics before attempting to learn more advanced mathematical concepts like algebra or geometry. At a later date, the student will have the chance to take a second test; should the results indicate that the student is sufficiently prepared to move on to something more complicated, he or she can be reassigned to a more challenging course of study.
While utilized widely, not all educators universally support tests of achievement. Proponents point to the success of the tests in placing students into learning situations that are more in line with their current level of knowledge rather than overwhelming them with additional information that they may or may not be able to assimilate. Individuals and groups that oppose the use of an achievementtest claim that the exams are not structured in a manner that accounts for the general aptitude of each student, resulting in the creation of an overall learning environment that pigeonholes rather than nurtures each student and promote productive learning.
It is not unusual for many school jurisdictions to make use of a sample achievementtest several weeks before administering the live exam. The idea behind the achievementtest practice run is to allow students to get an idea of the general format of the exam and what type of instructions apply to each section. While the specific questions used in the sample are different those utilized in the live achievementtest, they are usually close enough to provide the student with an idea of what to expect.