September 21, 2009 (Arlington, VA) – Inspired by recommendations from the Commission on the Use of Standardized tests in Undergraduate Admission, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has released a textbook to train counseling and enrollment professionals in the practice and policies of college admission testing. Foundations of Standardized Admission Testing outlines admission testing ethics and standards, content, interpretation, predictive validity, group disparities, and other topics.
To address the increasing concern about the prominence of standardized testing in the college admission process, a NACAC-appointed commission previously evaluated the utility and current trends of testing practices. Released in 2008, the Commission’s report recommended the regular evaluation of the foundations and implications of standardized test requirements, the assessment of possible misuses of admission test scores and the establishment of opportunities for colleges and secondary schools to educate themselves and their staff about the appropriate uses of standardized tests.
According to the authors of the Commission report, many admission officers who regularly review applications and test scores have not benefited from academic study or training in testing interpretation. In the report they explicitly stated the need for a training program engineered for admission officers and college counseling professionals. With Foundations, NACAC offers a comprehensive introduction to standardized tests, as well as detailed analysis of their function within the admission process.
“This textbook includes unbiased and much needed information for those using test results in the counseling, admission selection or scholarship processes,” said NACAC Chief Executive Officer Joyce Smith. “Standardized tests have come under greater scrutiny in the past decade, and this new publication will be an important educational tool.”
The textbook contains eight chapters of carefully researched instruction and self assessment, including an 83-question and answer module to heighten comprehension. Foundations also includes a list of supplemental materials and reading assignments.
More information on Foundations of Standardized Admission Testing, including availability, is online.
About NACAC
NACAC is an Arlington, VA-based education association of more than 11,000 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association, founded in 1937, is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.