What is a diagnostic test?Įducational diagnostic testing is a form of assessment that occurs before instruction begins. Through the NBT benchmarks, university lecturers are able to identify areas within the curriculum that need to be emphasised or amended in order to contribute to the academic success of their students. Students should evaluate their scores against the admission requirements provided by the university to which they are applying and be prepared to work accordingly. The benchmarks enable students, and their parents and teachers, to assess at a glance their readiness for university. These benchmark categories provide information to universities about an applicant’s readiness for university and what kind of support the university needs to provide to students performing within these categories. There are three benchmark categories for each of the three NBT tests which place a student’s test performance on the NBTs into: Proficient, Intermediate, and Basic categories. what does each mean for students (parents and teachers)?.How many benchmark categories are there and The NBT benchmarks are revised every three years, as part of good testing practice.
These criteria are reflected in the benchmark categories of performance for each of our domains (Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Mathematics). The NBTs assess and evaluate student test scores according to criteria that are considered appropriate for degree, diploma and higher certificate study at institutions of higher learning. What does the ‘Benchmark’ in NBTs stand for? “Placement”, in this instance, refers to courses or curricula that are put in place to assist students who require academic support. NBT scores place candidates within a benchmark category and each university (and sometimes, different Faculties within the same university) use these in a slightly different ways to assist with decisions about admissions, placement and teaching and learning support.
The tests provide an indication of the readiness of candidates for the demands of higher education. It is not possible to pass or fail the NBTs. In the 2000s, the National Senior Certificate was introduced and the Higher Education sector also became acutely aware of its own challenges in terms of low throughput and high drop-out rates. In the 1990s, a further aim and use of the tests arose, which was to identify talented students whose Senior Certificate results did not make them eligible for selection to higher education studies.
0 kommentar(er)
