An analysis of a mathematics test : an item and error analysis of the National Primary Schools Annual Examination in Mathematics for Year Six, 1977

Abstract

The performance of pupils in an examination can be affected by various factors of which the difficulty of the items themselves is, undoubtedly, the most crucial. This dissertation presents an analysis of all the items making up the examination paper. A further analysis, the error analysis, investigates in detail the nature and derivation of some of the most common errors committed; and proposes diagnostic teaching strategies to eradicate these errors. This study investigates also sex differences in performance in the test; as well as the reliability and validity of the test. An attempt is also made to set up pupil norms. The nature and purpose of item banking; the need .. of setting up a centralized item bank as well as some alternatives to item banking; test construction, and ways of expanding the scope of pedagogy in teacher education, are also discussed.