Introduction to CEM and the Baseline Tests

Dr Robert Clark

Who / What is CEM ?

Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring• Not for Profit Organisation• Part of Durham University• Close links to School of Education• Established 1985• Nursery / Reception Post-16• Monitoring Systems, Research and Evaluation Projects• UK & International• Over 1/3 Secondary & Post-16 Establishments• Informed by Evidence from Research

CEM Provides• Information Systems from Nursery to Post-16

Student Guidance & Chances Performance Monitoring

• Evaluation & Research Projects• Entrance Testing• Support – Phone, email, documentation• Training• INSET• Roadshows• Conferences (including exhibitions)

The Systems

The Systems

Year 7Year 8

Year 9MidYIS Computer Adaptive Baseline Test

Year 10Year 11 Yellis

Computer Adaptive Baseline Test

Year 12Year 13 Alis

GCSE Computer Adaptive Baseline Test

GCSE

A / AS / Btec / IB etc

INSIGHT Combines curriculum tests with developed ability

KS3

Typical TimelineMeasure BaselineSTART:

Autumn Term

Feedback

Reports

Collect and Send Results

Value-Added

Feedback

August

END:

September

The baseline score is measured as early as possible and the information sent to CEM

The institution then receives feedback from CEM: baseline test results and predictions

The public examination results are sent to CEM when received by the institution

The value added data is available from September via the Institution’s website at CEM

Typical Timeline

Early Testing & Predictions

Testing is available from June at end of previous academic year

e.g. Y6 / Y9 / Y11

Basic Principles:

• Measure Student’s ability Intake Profiles IPR - Strengths and Weaknesses

• Project future performance from national trends Predictions

• Record Final Grade

• Compare actual performance to Projected Performance Value-Added Reports

Starting Up

Pre-16• Complete and return registration form

Paper for new schools Online through secure website for renewals

• Organise Baseline Testing Available from 1st June (early testing) through to 30th April Upload pupil list via secure website Set up web links to test (or download LAN version) Test students (can be done over extended period)

• Download Feedback Available within 2 hours of a student completing the test Feedback updated as more students complete test

Secure Website - Secondary : Pre-16

Secondary : Pre-16 – Adaptive Test Instructions

Download Instructions

Upload Pupil Details

Link to tests

Secondary : Pre-16 – INSIGHT Test Instructions

Download Instructions

Upload Pupil Details

Link to tests

Post-16• Complete and return registration form

Paper for new schools Online through secure website for renewals

• Organise Baseline Testing Available from 1st June (early testing) through to 30th April Student list NOT used – do not need to upload Set up web links to test (or download LAN version) Test students (can be done over extended period)

• Upload ‘Registration Spreadsheet’ Names, gender, dob, average GCSE score, post-16 course

choices etc Upload via secure website once students confirmed on course

(mid September ?)• Download Feedback

Early Predictions available from adaptive test within 2 hours Formal feedback including IPRS, GCSE predictions and

chances graphs available once Registration Spreadsheet processed & ‘Testing Complete’ clicked

Secure Website - Post-16

Quick linksto reports

Date last generated

Post-16 : Adaptive Test Instructions

Use this web link

Baseline Assessments of Developed Ability

Baseline Assessment

• Year 7 (8)• Year 9• Year 10 (11)• Year 12 (13+)

Computer Adaptive Baseline Test

Vocab Maths Non Verbal

What is an Adaptive test ?

• All questions allocated to groups of different difficulty• All students in a year group get common difficulty starting question• If answer correct, next question harder• If answer wrong, next question easier• Test looks at all answers in a section and homes in on questions of a

suitable difficulty for student

Try it yourself at www.intuproject.org/demos

X

Standardisation

• Test scores are standardised; Mean = 100, SD = 15

Standardised Score

National Percentage

Comment

>130 Top 2.5% Traditional classification of ‘mentally gifted’

>120 Top 10%

>100 Top 50%

<80 Bottom 10%

<70 Bottom 2.5% Potential special educational needs ??

The Computer Adaptive Baseline Test:

• Adaptive components common to MidYIS, Yellis, and Alis are:– Vocabulary– Maths

• Non- adaptive sections:– Non-verbal (MidYIS, Yellis, Alis)– Skills (MidYIS only)

• Assessments are ‘curriculum free’: i.e. students are not taught prior to the test

• Measure of acquired ability• There is no preparation for the test

Difficult vocabulary

Difficult maths

x/4 + 2

Non-Verbal: Cross-sections

Non-Verbal: Blocks

3

PicturesNon-Verbal: Pictures

Skills: Proof Reading

Skills: Perceptual Speed and Accuracy

Alis - Patterns

Alis – Logical Reasoning

Additionally for INSIGHT:Developed Ability

• Vocabulary

• Non verbal, Skills

• Attitudinal measures

Curriculum-based assessments covering:

Maths - Number & Algebra- Handling Data- Space, Shape & Measurement

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, - Attitudes to Science

Reading - Speed Reading- Text Comprehension- Passage Comprehension

INSIGHT

INSIGHT - Maths

7

INSIGHT - Maths

Plus Attitude to Science: Perception of Science, Relevance to Self, Environmental Actions, Enjoyment of Science

INSIGHT - Science

INSIGHT – Reading(Text Comprehension)

INSIGHT – Reading(Passage Comprehension)

INSIGHT – Reading(Speed Reading)

INSIGHT – Developed Ability

Measuring AbilityKey Stage Data

or Baseline Test ?

Key Stage Baselines – KS2; GCSEStrengths WeaknessesRelated to curriculum Dependent on teaching effectiveness (prior Value-

Added) as well as student ability

Automatically available Open to manipulation

In Depth Not all students have KS data

Linked to student learning experience

Reliability of KS measure

Consistency of KS score (i.e. GCSE & Btec First etc)

Independent Baseline Test – CEM Adaptive Test

Thank YouRobert Clark – robert.clark@cem.dur.ac.uk