How will I use the test results?

In addition to considering what you’d like to know about your students, consider how you will use this information. For example, will you use test results to place incoming students? Assign grades? Improve your program?

Test results can be used for many types of decisions, and these may be high or low stakes for students and other stakeholders. 

Test use is an important part of test validity. For example, using an achievement exam to assign a grade in a Spanish class may be an appropriate use of the assessment, but using the same exam to make decisions about exiting the program may not be an appropriate use. 

When selecting a test, make sure the information provided by the test is sufficient for the decisions you’re going to make based on the test scores.