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Chapter 9
Assessment of Academic Achievement
Brief Summary
Chapter 9 will examine all of the various issues surrounding assessment of educational achievement in
special education. It will focus on what to expect on tests of reading, spelling, writing, mathematics, and
comprehensive achievement tests that are available to special educators today. After reading this
chapter, your students should be able to do the following:
▪ Understand the purpose of achievement tests
▪ Understand why individually administered achievement tests are preferred rather than group
achievement tests
▪ Be able to discuss oral reading and miscues associated with it
▪ Understand the different types of reading comprehension
▪ Understand word recognition and word attack skills
▪ Thoroughly evaluate the various reading assessment measures
▪ Understand written composition and the tests associated with it
▪ Be able to differentiate between arithmetic and mathematics
▪ Identify and thoroughly evaluate the various arithmetic tests
▪ Identify and thoroughly evaluate tests that measure spelling ability
▪ Identify and thoroughly evaluate the various comprehensive achievement tests
Lecture and Discussion Outline
I. Overview of Achievement Tests
II. Reading
A. Overview
B. Oral Reading
1. Common errors seen on oral reading tests
2. Analyzing Oral Reading Miscues
a. Significant miscues
b. Insignificant miscues
c. Questions to ask when evaluating miscues
C. Reading Comprehension
1. Overview
2. Reading Comprehension skills
D. Word-Recognition Skills
E. Word Attack Skills
F. Summary of Reading Assessment
G. Reading Assessment Measures
III. Written Language
A. Overview
B. Analysis for Interpreting Written Composition
1. Composition
2. Spelling
3. Handwriting
C. Tests Of Written Language
IV. Math
A. Overview
B. Abilities involved in mathematics
C. Mathematical Classifications
1. Content
2. Operations
3. Applications
D. National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics-Basic Mathematics Skills
E. Analysis and Interpretation of Math Skills
F. Four error types in computational analysis
1. Incorrect operation
2. Incorrect number fact
3. Incorrect algorithm
4. Random error
G. Assessment Of Mathematical Abilities
VI. Comprehensive Tests of Educational Achievement
VII. Conclusion
Essay Questions
▪ Explain the most common errors seen on oral reading tests
▪ When are miscues significant? When are they insignificant?
▪ Explain the kinds of reading comprehension skills most often assessed by diagnostic reading
tests
