Evaluations of Three Education Tests

Test 1: Kindergarten Readiness Test, Second Edition
Acronym: KRT
Author: Scholastic Testing Service, Inc.
Date: 2006-2015
Grade/Age: Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Immediately after Kindergarten enrollment
Category: Developmental
Purpose: Determining “readiness” for Kindergarten
Description: Individually administered, or administered in small groups, ideally over two sessions
II. Mental Measurements Yearbook (or Tests in Print)
A. Volume 20: J.F.Carlson,K.F.Geisinger,&J.L.Jonson(Eds.),The twentieth mental measurements yearbook. 2017.
B. The strength of the KRT is that it is easy to administer, and therefore useful for screening purposes. The main weakness with the KRT is its validity and reliability; the authors provide little empirical evidence for the test variables selected and their efficacy in determining the dependent variable, which is readiness for Kindergarten.
III. Publisher’s Website
A. Website: http://www.ststesting.com/krt.html
B. Pricing: $62.50 for starter set including user manual, answer key, and 20 test booklets
C. The publisher does not provide any specific information that distinguishes this from other tests.
IV. Evaluation
Based on the available information, the KRT is useful for cash-strapped schools needing a quick and easy method of assessing child development or to evaluate any child for readiness. Over the long run, the school might want to use a more empirically valid test.
Test 2: Integrated Writing Test
Acronym: IWT
Author: Beery, Keith E., Integrated Teaching Team
Date: 1993
Grade/Age: Grades 2-12
Category: English, Language
Purpose: Designed to evaluate writing skills based on parameters like Productivity, Clarity, Vocabulary, Spelling, Punctuation, and Legibility
Description: A short (15 minute) and simple written test for evaluating specific parameters of what the authors deem to be good writing.
II. Mental Measurements Yearbook (or Tests in Print)
A. Volume 14: B.S. Plake & J.C. Impara (Eds.). The Fourteenth Mental Measurements Yearbook. 2001.
B. Although it is simple, the IWT has been developed carefully with six specific dimensions of writing literacy in mind. Teachers can also adapt the test to suit their own specific interests or needs, such as to evaluate only certain types of writing. The drawbacks of the IWT include teachers being offered little guidance for developing their prompts, and the small sample sizes for the empirical testing.
III. Publisher Website
A. Website: http://www.goldened.com/product-tag/integrated-writing/
B. Cost: $131.95 for the starter kit including manual, 35 booklets for each grade level.
C. The publisher does not offer any information about why the IWT differs from competitors.
IV. Evaluation
This test offers a quick overview of writing skills, and has a high degree of validity. However, it cannot be used effectively for special populations.
Test 3: Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, Third Edition
Acronym: KTEA-3
Author: Pearson (Kaufman, Kaufman, Nadeen, et al)
Date: 1985-2014
Grade/Age: Age 4 to 25
Category: Achievement
Purpose: To measure academic achievement in written language, oral language, reading, and mathematics.
Description: Comprehensive achievement test including 19 subtests, which can be administered using pencil or digitally.
II. Mental Measurements Yearbook
A. Volume 20, J.F.Carlson, K.F.Geisinger, & J.L. Jonson (Eds.). The Twentieth Mental Measurements Yearbook. 2017
B. The strength of the KTEA-3 is its robust reliability and validity. This version is also an improvement on previous versions, and offers educators with a varied and dynamic test.
III. Publisher’s Website
A. Website: https://www.pearsonclinical.com/education/products/100000777/kaufman-test-of-educational-achievement-third-edition-ktea-3.html
B. In 2017, the price is $781.30 per Form A and Form B combined kit for manual scoring; $992.45 per Form A and Form B combined kit with 100 Q-global score reports.
C. The publisher claims the KTEA-3 “offers a wealth of exciting updates for targeted interventions,” and can “empower all your students to succeed and receive a deeper understanding of achievement gaps,” (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2017, p. 1).
IV. Evaluation
Although it may be cost-prohibitive for many schools, the KTEA-3 offers administrators one of the most reliable and valid tests, as well as one of the most comprehensive.


References

Golden Educational Center (2017). Integrated writing. http://www.goldened.com/product-tag/integrated-writing/
Kaufman, A.S. & Kaufman, N.L. (2017). The Kaufman test of educational achievement, third edition. Pearson. https://www.pearsonclinical.com/education/products/100000777/kaufman-test-of-educational-achievement-third-edition-ktea-3.html#tab-details
STS Testing (2017). Kindergarten readiness test. http://www.ststesting.com/krt.html