National and Local Proficiency Tests: Their Validity for an Introductory Biology Course

Abstract

The study involved comparison of three proposed proficiency tests for a two-quarter introductory biology course. One of the tests was a nationally standardized examination; the other two were locally constructed. The three tests were administered as first course pretests and as posttests each quarter of the sequence. Course grades were determined independently of the proficiency test scores. The College Entrance Examination Board's College Placement Test for Biology (CEEB Biology) yielded the highest validity between pretest scores and first and second quarter grades. Posttest scores earned during both the first and second quarter on the locally constructed BergMiller Proficiency Examination (BMPE) were more highly correlated with final grade in both the first and second quarter than were posttest scores on either the CEEB Biology or the locally constructed Garoian Proficiency Examination (GPE).MANY universities administer proficiency tests to incoming freshmen in order to establish advanced standing and college credits. Enrolled students may also take proficiency tests to establish college credit. Several proficiency tests used for the introductory courses at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C) are standardized national examinations. Other courses, however, use locally constructed proficiency tests. Among the problems encountered in utilizing either nationally or locally constructed examinations is the establishment of the relative validities with respect to course grades of the alternative tests. To evaluate and answer this problem for one specific two-quarter course, Introductory Biology, GSA 201a,b (Southern Illinois University, 1971) three different proficiency examinations were compared.

An In-House Biology Placement Test Improves Success in Majors Introductory Biology

“…Even though there are clearly many BPTs in use, we only identified one 1976 publication about test validation (White et al, 1976). In this report, we have described the evidence-based steps we have taken to develop, test, and analyze long-term data following BPT implementation and benchmark installation for our majors introductory course.…”