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Mawuse teaches Akan, an African language spoken in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, at an elementary and middle school that highlights African cultures. Parents are very enthusiastic about the school’s high standards and international focus and students are generally eager to excel in their classes. Mawuse administers achievement tests to his students every quarter and he often finds himself explaining the results to parents and students.

How could Mawuse handle each of the situations below? 

Using what you’ve learned about reliability, brainstorm possible answers to these questions. 

Question A 

I heard another parent say that the test they took has different questions from my daughter’s. It sounds like theirs was easier. I don’t think that’s fair, and I’d like for my daughter to take the other test.

Question B

I don’t think the score that my daughter got on this test is accurate. Could you please re-score it?

Question C

My daughter was having a bad day, and I know she did not do as well as she could have on that rest. Could she re-take it?

After considering your own responses, click here to view the sample responses.

Mr. Chon teaches Chinese in his district’s middle school magnet program.  Parents are very enthusiastic about the school’s high standards and international focus. Mr. Chon administers benchmark assessments to his students each quarter and he often finds himself explaining the results to students.

How could Mr. Chon handle each of the situations below?

Using what you’ve learned about reliability, brainstorm possible answers to these questions. 

Question A 

I heard someone say that the test they took has different questions from mine. It sounds like theirs was easier. How is that fair? I want to take the other test.

Question B

I don’t think the score that I got on this test is right. Could you please re-score it?

Question C

Mr. Chon, I was having a bad day, and I know I did not do as well as I could have on that test. Could I re-take it?

After considering your own responses, click here to view the sample responses.

Aysun works for a university study abroad program. She is in charge of administering proficiency tests to students prior to their studies to determine what level classes students will need while abroad. She often finds herself explaining the results of the assessment to test-takers.

How could Aysun handle each of the situations below?

Using what you’ve learned about reliability, brainstorm possible answers to these questions. 

Question A 

I heard someone say that the test they took has different questions from mine. It sounds like theirs was easier. I don’t think that’s fair, and I’d like to take the other test.

Question B

I don’t think the score that I got on this test is accurate. Could you please re-score it?

Question C

I was having a bad day, and I know I did not do as well as I could have on that rest. Could I re-take it?

After considering your own responses, click here to view the sample responses. 

Mr. Silva is a world language teacher of Portuguese at a local high school. The school is located near a community of Portuguese speakers, and Mr. Silva often has Portuguese heritage learners taking his class. Mr. Silva uses formative assessment throughout the semester in order to better inform his instruction, and often finds himself explaining the reasons for and results of the assessment to test-takers.

How could Mr. Silva handle each of the situations below?

Using what you’ve learned about reliability, brainstorm possible answers to these questions. 

Question A 

I heard someone say that the test they took has different questions from mine. It sounds like theirs was easier. I don’t think that’s fair, and I’d like to take the other test.

Question B

I don’t think the score that I got on this test is accurate. Could you please re-score it?

Question C

I was having a bad day, and I know I did not do as well as I could have on that rest. Could I re-take it?

After considering your own responses, click here to view the sample responses. 

Jaime works for a nonprofit legal advocacy agency for recent immigrants to the United States.  The organization offers oral and written proficiency tests every six months to new employees and to employees who feel their language skills have improved from working with clients and the community.  The results of the test influence salary and promotion decisions.  He often finds himself explaining the results of the assessment to test-takers.

How could Jaime handle each of the situations below?

Using what you’ve learned about reliability, brainstorm possible answers to these questions.

Question A

I heard someone say that the test they took had different questions from mine. It sounds like it was easier. I don’t think that’s fair, and I’d like to take the other test.

Question B

I do not think the score I got on this test is accurate. Could you please re-score it?

Question C

I was having a bad day, and I know I did not do as well as I could have on that test. Could I re-take it?

After considering your own responses, click here to view the sample responses.