Assessing national achievement levels in education [electronic resource] / [edited by] Vincent Greaney and Thomas Kellaghan.

Introduction
National assessments of student achievement
What are the main elements in a national assessment?
How does a national assessment differ from public examinations?
Why carry out a national assessment?
Decisions in a national assessment
Who should give policy guidance for the national assessment?
Who should carry out the national assessment?
Who will administer the tests and questionnaires?
What population will be assessed?
Will a whole population or sample be assessed?
What will be assessed?
How will achievement be assessed?
How frequently will assessments be carried out?
How should student achievement be reported?
What kinds of statistical analysis should be carried out?
How should the results of a national assessment be communicated and used?
What are the cost components of a national assessment?
Summary of decisions
Issues in the design, implementation, analysis, reporting, and use of a national assessment
Design
Implementation
Analysis
Report writing
Dissemination and use of findings
International assessments of student achievement
Growth in international assessment activity
Advantages of international assessments
Problems with international assessments
Conclusion.