Every teacher gives tests. Sometimes even the best teachers who are very conscious of improving themselves as teachers ignore to think about tests. As teachers we are seldom trained as paper-setters. It is assumed that anyone can make a test simply because that person is qualified to teach. This assumption proves to be false if we compare tests of two similarly qualified and experienced math teachers in the same school or the same district. To begin learning the ‘art of testing’ let’s think about tests.
In most cases tests are used to evaluate the learning levels of a student so that she can be compared to her peers, using a certain specific scale. This scale can be letter grades (A, B, C, D...) or numeric (on a scale of 4 or 10 or 100). This comparison assists us in determining how well each child has learnt the contents (syllabi) of a particular course.
The importance of grades to students, (to academic admissions committees, to students' families and potential employers) cannot be understated. During the academic years a student's concept of self-worth and intellect is based largely on grades. Students who do not get good grades often start thinking of themselves as inferior to others and develop psychological problems and low self esteem. Intentionally or unintentionally, teachers and parents too differentiate between students on the basis of their performance on examinations.
However, our determination of a student‘s grade is never 100% accurate due to several factors. For example, a student who is unwell the night before an examination is bound to not exhibit his knowledge on the test thereby receiving a grade lower than he ought to. Inaccuracy in evaluation can also arise due to human element of subjectivity and bias. Hence, to say that a student who receives 70% marks in mathematics in class IX has successfully mastered 70% of the syllabus seems far from correct. A deviation of about 10% must be expected in these scores. Hence, a student who has obtained 70% marks may have learnt 60% to 80% of the syllabus well. In case of letter grades too, there are chances that a student who has received a B grade might actually deserve an A or a C grade.
