Performance on a Classroom Test: Interrogating Scores, Time and Grades

Abstract

: The objective of this paper1 is to report on an analysis of
performance on a classroom test, administered at the beginning and end
of the semester. A descriptive analysis was made for the purpose of
reflection: average performance and variation in scores and the time
taken to complete the test at initial and final administrations are worked
out. Performance on the test (initial and final scores) is checked for
relationship with final course grades. Rank correlations between scores
and time taken to complete the test (twice) are computed. The test
correlates positively with the final course grades of the students: initial
test, r = 0.32; final test, r = 0.68. In about the same average time taken
(43 minutes each) for the initial and final test, the average gain in
performance was about nine points (8.65). Less variation in scores and
time taken was also observed in the final test. The evidence from rank
correlations between scores and time taken tend to suggest that they are
inversely related: bordering on no relationship (R = 0.082) for the initial
and entering negative relationship (R = -0.063) for the final. The positive
gain in performance and the relatively moderate correlation of the test
with the final course grades is found to be reassuring, while the inverse
relationship between the scores and the time taken calls for a thorough
investigation on a larger sample.