1 - Issues and Tensions in the Assessment of Mathematical Proficiency

Summary

Introduction

You'd think mathematics assessment—thought of as “testing” by most people—would be simple. If you want to know what a student knows, why not write (or get an expert to write) some questions about the content you want examined, give those questions to students, see if the answers are right or wrong, and add up a total score? Depending on your predilections (and how much time you have available) you might give a multiple-choice test. You might give an “open answer” or “constructed response” test in which students show their work. You could give partial credit if you wish.

This version of assessment fits with most people's experiences in school, and fits with descriptions of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) as “the nation's report card.” From this perspective, mathematics assessment—discovering what mathematics a person (typically, a student) knows—seems straightforward.

Would that things were so simple. As this essay and later contributions to this volume will indicate, different groups can have very different views of what “counts,” or should count, in mathematics. Assessing some aspects of mathematical thinking can be very difficult—especially if there are constraints of time or money involved, or if the tests have to have certain “psychometric” properties (discussed further in this essay) in order to make sure that the test-makers stand on legally safe ground. Different groups may want different information from tests.