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What 12-year-old students learn
Assessment of primary education
Basic Data 1995
Introduction 4
What 12-year-old students learn 7
Spanish language and literature 9
Written comprehension: LITERARY TEXTS 12
INFORMATION TEXTS 14
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL TEXTS 16
Written expression: 18
USING SYLLABLES 19
USING WORDS 20
USING SENTENCES 22
USING TEXTS 24
Mathematics 27
Numbers and operations 30
Measurement 32
Geometry 34
Social Sciences 37
The countryside 40
Population and human activities 42
Social organisation 44
Communication, information and transport 46
Historical changes and scenes 48
Natural Sciences 51
Human beings and health 54
The physical environment 56
Living beings 58
Materials and their properties 60
Methodology 62
Introduction
One of the tasks assigned to the National Institute for Quality and
Evaluation is that of carrying out general assessment of the education
system, developing assessment systems and producing information to help
improve the quality of education. The responsibility for this task,
channelled through the Institute, is shared by the Ministry of Education
and Culture and the education departments of those Autonomous Regions with
full responsibility for education.
The Institute's action plan for the period 1994-1997 includes a number of
studies, including the "Assessment of Primary Education".
The basic objectives of this study are as follows:
1.
- To evaluate the effects of the introduction of the new Primary
Education, both as regards the functioning of schools and as regards
the educational processes carried out and their results.
2.
- To ascertain and assess the educational results achieved by the end
of the primary stage and the way in which these relate to educational
processes and to the different contextual factors which influence
such achievement.
The main objective pursued in gathering data on the academic results of
students taking the Sixth Year of Basic General Education in 1995 (students
aged 12) is to ascertain the level of academic achievement attained by
these students with a view to laying down a baseline for use in analyzing
educational progress in the school system over time as a means to evaluate
the effectiveness of the reforms introduced in the system.
In a few years' time, similar tests should logically be run on students
having completed the new Primary Education in full, in order to assess the
changes which have taken place in academic achievement as a result of this
new stage in the functioning of the school system. Again, the same kind of
data as in this first survey should be gathered by means of questionnaires
to be completed by teachers, school management staff and students'
families, in order to analyze the changes that have taken place in teaching
methods, functioning of schools and attitudes, and expectations of the
participants in the educational process following the general introduction
of the new Primary Education.
The final report on the survey, due to be published in early 1997, will
include, in a suitably structured form, the results of the tests
administered to students and the questionnaires completed by teachers,
management staff and families, all based upon a representative sample taken
from schools located throughout the country. The survey methodology, which
follows international research models for educational assessment, is
summarised in the final pages of this publication.
The sections following this introduction provide a brief preview of some of
the survey data relating to academic achievement and will hopefully enlist
the reader's interest in the final report proper. To this end, and in order
to provide direct, graphic information which it is hoped may also provoke
some debate, the general results of the academic achievement tests in the
four areas studied - Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Social
Sciences and Natural Sciences - have also been included. The figures
offered are the overall percentages of correct answers in each area and the
percentages of correct answers in the various sub-areas which are covered
in each one.
In addition, the results of some of the actual questions put to students
are given to illustrate the degree of difficulty of the questions that
students were asked to answer in each of the areas and sub-areas into which
the test was divided.
What 12-year-old students learn about:
· Spanish language and literature
· Mathematics
· Social Sciences
· Natural Sciences
Population:
Students in the Sixth grade of EGB, academic year 1994-1995
Coverage:
95% of the school student population
Sample:
437 schools
10,953 students
Test administered in:
May 1995
Results by areas
Spanish language and literature
Mathematics
Social Sciences
Natural Sciences
What 12-year-old students learn
Spanish language and literature
What 12-year-old students learn
Spanish language and literature
The test consisted of 61 questions
1. Written comprehension
·
- 18 on literary texts
·
- 11 on information texts
·
- 11 on verbal and non-verbal texts
TOTAL 40 questions
2. Written expression
· 1 using syllables
· 11 using words
· 6 using sentences
· 3 using texts
TOTAL 21 questions
Overall test
There were 61 questions on
Comprehension of written texts
· literary
· information
· verbal and non-verbal
Written expression
· syllables
· words
· sentences
· texts
Objective
To develop a capacity for written comprehension and expression as basic
learning tools
Overall Result
Average test score: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 95% correct answers
Most difficult question: 24% correct answers
Average test score:
64% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
There were 40 questions on
Comprehension of written texts
· literary
· information
· verbal and non-verbal
Objective
To develop the student's ability to comprehend texts as a basic learning
tool
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 95% correct answers
Most difficult question: 26% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
64% correct answers
[col 2]
Written comprehension
COMPREHENSION OF LITERARY TEXTS
There were 17 questions on
· description
· monologue
· dialogue
· drama
Objective
To develop the student's ability to comprehend literary texts as a basic
tool for learning and aesthetic appreciation
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 60% correct answers
Easiest question: 83% correct answers
Most difficult question: 36% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
60% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Literary texts
Easiest question
Objective
Comprehension of a text written in the first person
The student is given an extract from a grandmother's diary, in which she
writes about the problems of living with her orphaned grandson and her
concern that, should anything happen to her in her old age, the child would
have to go to an orphanage.
After reading the text, the student must answer the question:
In the grandmother's opinion, what would have been worst for Karl?
·
- Going to live with an aunt and uncle
1
·
- Living alone
2
·
- Living with her
3
·
- Being sent to an orphanage
4·
Correct answers: 83%
[col 2]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Literary texts
Most difficult question
Objective
Ability to identify the characteristics of a play
The student is given a dialogue involving various characters in a play. We
can deduce from this dialogue that it is the Mayor's wife who really runs
the town.
After reading the text, the student is asked to answer the question:
Why do you think that the character (the Mayor's wife) really runs the
town?
·
- Because she holds a political office
1
·
- Because she is the one with
- the strongest character and
everyone jumps to her command2·
·
- Because she is the one who talks most
3
·
- Because she is the richest person
in the town4
Correct answers: 36%
[col 3]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Literary texts
Average difficulty
Objective
To grasp a description in outline and in detail
The student is given an extract from Industrias y andanzas de Alfanhuí by
Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio. One of the paragraphs indirectly describes how the
protagonist observes the gleaming eyes of two rodents in the night.
After reading the text, the student must complete the following sentence:
The lights that Alfanhuí saw were:
·
- Tiny ornamental lights in the garden
1
·
- Rodents' eyes gleaming in the night
2·
·
- The moon's reflection in the pond
3
·
- Drops of water sprayed by the fountain
4
Correct answers: 66%
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
COMPREHENSION OF INFORMATION TEXTS
There were 12 questions on
· instructions
· recipes
· news
· explanatory texts
Objective
To develop the student's ability to comprehend information texts as a basic
tool for learning and for the conveyance of messages in everyday life
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 66% correct answers
Easiest question: 87% correct answers
Most difficult question: 31% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
66% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Information texts
Easiest question
Objective
Comprehension of information given in a recipe
The student is given an information text describing an experiment to obtain
chlorophyll, starch and sugar from leaves.
After reading the text, the student is asked to answer the question:
If you do as the text says, you will find that...
·
- Geranium leaves are green
1
·
- The leaves contain iodine and alcohol
2
·
- The leaves contain water
3
·
- The leaves contain starch and chlorophyll
4·
Correct answers: 87%
[col 2]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Information texts
Most difficult question
Objective
To understand the scientific information in an explanatory text
The student is given a text which talks about whales, what they are like,
their habits and what man thinks of them.
After reading the text, the student is asked to answer the question:
"Whales were shot with total impunity" means:
·
- Nobody punished people who hunted whales
1·
·
- They were very easy to catch
2
·
- They were shot with air guns
3
·
- They were shot with arrows
4
Correct answers: 31%
[col 3]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Literary texts
Average difficulty
Objective
To distinguish between a set of instructions and other kinds of text
The student is given a text containing instructions on the best way to
preserve the environment.
After reading the text, the student is asked to answer the following
question:
Say what kind of text you think you have just read:
·
- Orders
1
·
- Regulations
2
·
- Laws
3
·
- Instructions
4·
Correct answers: 67%
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
COMPREHENSION OF VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL TEXTS
There were 11 questions on
· advertisements
· puzzles
· plans
· comics
Objective
To develop the student's ability to comprehend verbal and non-verbal texts
as a basic tool for learning and for communication in the major media
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 68% correct answers
Easiest question: 95% correct answers
Most difficult question: 26% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
68% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Verbal and non-verbal texts
Easiest question
Objective
Familiarity with the language of advertisements
The student must read the text and then circle the number of the correct
answer.
It is difficult to handle because it is heavy
·
- True
1
·
- False
2·
Correct answers: 95%
[col 2]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Verbal and non-verbal texts
Most difficult question
Objective
To decipher the clues making up a cryptic message
Circle the number of the correct solution to this puzzle
·
- he is pale
1
·
- he arrives in a bad mood
2·
·
- he didn't say anything
3
·
- he hasn't called yet
4
Correct answers: 26%
[col 3]
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
Verbal and non-verbal texts
Average difficulty
Objective
Comprehension of the language and symbols used in comics
The student is given a story narrated in the form of a comic strip
containing six cartoons, from which it can be deduced that the protagonist,
a mouse, works outside of town.
After reading the text, the student is asked to answer the following
question:
This comic strip tells us a story, although there are no words. Which of
the following statements is true?
·
- The mouse goes to the country on vacation
1
·
- The mouse is a parcel deliveryman
2
·
- The mouse's workplace is outside Mouseville
3·
·
- The mouse is always in a good mood
4
Correct answers: 73%
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
There were 21 questions on
Written expression
· syllables
· words
· sentences
· texts
Objective
To develop the student's ability to express him/herself in writing as a
basic tool for inter-personal communication
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 89% correct answers
Most difficult question: 24% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
64% correct answers
[col 1]
Written expression
USING SYLLABLES
There was 1 question
Objective
To develop the student's ability to use syllables as units of language
Overall Result
Correct answer to the question: 59%
Correct answer to the question: 59%
[col 2]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using syllables
Objective
To separate the syllables in a sentence
Count the syllables in the following sentence and mark the correct answer:
Toma tu pañuelo hermana
·
- 10
1
·
- 8
2
·
- 9
3·
Correct answer to the question: 59%
Written expression
USING WORDS
There were 11 questions
Objective
To develop the student's ability to use words as units of language
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 61% correct answers
Easiest question: 89% correct answers
Most difficult question: 24% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
61% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using words
Easiest question
Objective
Familiarity with commonly-used words
Sometimes people use the Spanish language wrongly. Mark the mistake in this
example:
El pescao llegó fresco al almacén
·
- There should be no article
1
·
- There should be a "d" between the "a"
and the "o"2·
·
- The sentence should have been in the plural
3
·
- The sentence is correctly written
4
Correct answers: 89%
[col 2]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using words
Most difficult question
Objective
To distinguish words of different meaning by their spelling
Circle the number of the correct meaning:
BARÓN
·
- Noble title
1·
·
- Person of the male sex
2
·
- Holy man
3
Correct answers: 24%
[col 3]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using words
Average difficulty
Objective
Grouping together words with related meanings
Mark the word which is different from the others
·
- Snowfall
1·
·
- Breeze
2
·
- Wind
3
·
- Hurricane
4
·
- Gale
5
Correct answers: 62%
Written expression
USING SENTENCES
There were 6 questions
Objective
To develop the student's ability to use sentences as a form of written
expression
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 70% correct answers
Easiest question: 83% correct answers
Most difficult question: 36% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
70% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using sentences
Easiest question
Objective
Familiarity with the meaning of commonly-used expressions
The word "mano" [hand] has many meanings in Spanish.
What is its meaning in the expression "Con la mano en el corazón" [Lit.:
With the hand on the heart]?
·
- The speaker is an expert on matters of the heart
1
·
- Frankly and sincerely
2·
·
- The speaker is photographed with his/her
hand on his/her heart3
·
- The speaker suffers from heart disease
4
Correct answers: 83%
[col 2]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using sentences
Most difficult question
Objective
Familiarity with the meaning of commonly-used expressions
Read the following sentence carefully and mark the meaning which you think
is most appropriate:
"Es un pobre hombre" [Lit. He is a poor man]
·
- A person who has been defeated
1
·
- A mean, despicable person
2
·
- A person with no material goods
3·
·
- A person who leads an unhappy life
4
Correct answers: 36%
[col 3]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using sentences
Average difficulty
Objective
Proper sentence punctuation
Mark the sentence which is properly punctuated:
·
- The train will arrive at eight it is
running very late1
·
- The train will arrive, at eight, it is
running very late2
·
- The train will arrive at eight; it is
running very late3·
·
- The train will arrive, at eight it is
running very late4
Correct answers: 67%
Written expression
USING TEXTS
There were 3 questions
Objective
To develop the student's ability to communicate using paragraphs
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 67% correct answers
Easiest question: 80% correct answers
Most difficult question: 52% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
67% correct answers
[col 1]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using texts
Easiest question
Objective
Placing sentences in the proper order
Read the following sentences carefully and put them in order so that they
make up a meaningful text.
a. My name is Carnavalito
b. Instead of replying, Carnavalito took out his harmonica
c. "What is your name?", he ventured to ask
d. And the boy replied
e. "Where did you appear from, Carnavalito?"
·
- a - b - d - e - c
1
·
- b - a - d - c - e
2
·
- c - d - a - e - b
3·
·
- c - d - e - b - a
4
Correct answers: 80%
[col 2]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using texts
Most difficult question
Objective
To continue an unfinished text
Which of the sentences below would you use to continue the following text?
Huge raindrops exploded in the dust. The mother and child reached the
shelter of a rock.
·
- He pricked up his ears and sniffed the air
1
·
- Father and son rested for a few moments on the rock
2
·
- Hard and white, like marble
3
·
- Lightning fell around them like burning whiplashes
4·
Correct answers: 52%
[col 3]
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Using texts
Average difficulty
Objective
To distinguish between different kinds of text
A written text may be narrative, a poem, a dialogue, etc.
How is the dialogue between characters represented in a written text?
·
- Each character introduces him/herself
1
·
- It is not represented in any special way
2
·
- By putting inverted commas whenever one of
the characters starts to speak3
·
- By a dash in front of the words spoken by
the characters, or else indirectly by the
words of the narrator4·
Correct answers: 69%
What 12-year-old students learn
Mathematics
What 12-year-old students learn
MATHEMATICS
The test consisted of 37 questions on
·
- 21 on Numbers and Operations
·
- 6 on Measurement
·
- 10 on Geometry
[col 2]
OVERALL TEST
There were 37 questions on
·
- Numbers and Operations
·
- Measurement
·
- Geometry
Objective
To develop the capacity to reason with mathematical concepts, use
procedures and solve problems
Overall Result
Average test score: 50% correct answers
Easiest question: 83% correct answers
Most difficult question: 11% correct answers
Average test score:
50% correct answers
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
There were 21 questions on
· Whole numbers
· Common fractions
· Decimals
· Other subjects
Objective
To develop the ability to work with whole numbers, simple common fractions
and decimals. To find arithmetic means and percentages. Mental arithmetic.
Rounding of decimals. Estimating the result of a calculation.
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 50% correct answers
Easiest question: 78% correct answers
Most difficult question: 11% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
50% correct answers
[col 1]
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
Easiest question
Objective
To find the value of an expression by substituting two values
If a = 12 and b = 4, what is the value of 3 x (a - b)?
·
- 48
A·
·
- 40
B
·
- 24
C
·
- 19
D
Correct answers: 78%
[col 2]
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
Most difficult question
Objective
Rounding up or down to the nearest hundredth decimal place
If we round a number up or down to the nearest hundredth decimal place, we
get 41.63. Which of the following numbers can be rounded to give that
figure?
·
- 41.628
A·
·
- 41.623
B
·
- 41.636
C
·
- 41.6
D
Correct answers: 11%
[col 3]
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
Average difficulty
Objective
To choose the right operation to solve a problem
A housing estate has 16 blocks of flats with 15 floors each block and 6
flats each floor. Which operation is required to find out the number of
flats in the whole housing estate?
·
- (16 + 15) x 6
A
·
- 16 + 15 + 6
B
·
- 16 x (15 + 6)
C
·
- 16 x 15 x 6
D·
Correct answers: 51%
MEASUREMENT
There were 6 questions on
· Units of the Metric System
- Length
- Area
- Capacity
- Mass and weight
· Units of time measurement
Objective
Use of units of the Metric System and conversion of units to others of the
same magnitude.
Use of units of time measurement.
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 49% correct answers
Easiest question: 67% correct answers
Most difficult question: 29% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
49% correct answers
[col 1]
MEASUREMENT
Easiest question
Objective
To convert one measurement to another of the same magnitude
How many dl are there in 780 dal?
·
- 78 dl
A
·
- 780 dl
B
·
- 78000 dl
C·
·
- 780000 dl
D
Correct answers: 67%
[col 2]
MEASUREMENT
Most difficult question
Objective
To convert a non-complex number to a complex number
An apple weighs 12542 cg. Mark the other way that this can be expressed.
·
- 1 cg, 2 dg, 5 g, 4 dag, 2 hg
A
·
- 2 cg, 4 dg, 5 g, 2 dag, 1 hg
B·
·
- 42 cg, 25 dg, 1 g
C
·
- 12 cg, 54 dg, 2 g
D
Correct answers: 29%
[col 3]
MEASUREMENT
Average difficulty
Objective
To convert a fraction of a kilogram to grams
How many grams are there in 3/4 kilogram?
·
- 133 g
A
·
- 500 g
B
·
- 750 g
C·
·
- 250 g
D
Correct answers: 52%
GEOMETRY
There were 10 questions on
Plane and three-dimensional shapes
Calculating perimeters and areas
Interpreting scale drawings
Objective
Identification of geometric terms and familiarity with the properties of
figures and bodies. Calculation of areas and perimeters. Interpretation of
scales.
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 51% correct answers
Easiest question: 83% correct answers
Most difficult question: 27% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
51% correct answers
[col 1]
GEOMETRY
Easiest question
Objective
To calculate a distance given the scale
According to this scale, what is the distance between the towns of Billita
and Billota?
Scale
·
- 5 km
A
·
- 12 km
B·
·
- 15 km
C
·
- 20 km
D
Correct answers: 83%
[col 2]
GEOMETRY
Most difficult question
Objective
To calculate the perimeter of a rectangle, given the area and the length of
one of the sides
A rectangle has an area of 24 m2 and one of its sides is 3 m long. What is
the perimeter of the rectangle?
·
- 24 m
A
·
- 22 m
B·
·
- 20 m
C
·
- 11 m
D
Correct answers: 27%
[col 3]
GEOMETRY
Average difficulty
Objective
Recognition of right angles. To find an angle given that the sum of the
four angles of a quadrilateral is 360'
Two of the angles in trapezium ABCD are right angles and one of the other
angles measures 54'. What does the fourth angle measure?
·
- 36'
A
·
- 27'
B
·
- 45'
C
·
- 126'
D·
Correct answers: 46%
What 12-year-old students learn
Social Sciences
What 12-year-old students learn
SOCIAL SCIENCES
The test consisted of 24 questions on
·
- 7 on the countryside
·
- 4 on population and human activities
·
- 2 on social organisation
·
- 2 on communication, information and transport
·
- 9 on historical changes and scenes
[col 2]
OVERALL TEST
There were 24 questions on
·
- Component elements of the natural countryside
·
- Demographic features and sectors of economic activity
·
- Social and political organisation in Spain
·
- Communication, information and transport
·
- Ways of life in the great historical epochs
·
- Important events and people in Spanish history
Objective
To become familiar with the essential features of our physical, social and
cultural environment and the possibilities of action within it
Overall Result
Average test score: 61% correct answers
Easiest question: 90% correct answers
Most difficult question: 35% correct answers
Average test score:
61% correct answers
THE COUNTRYSIDE
There were 7 questions on
·
- Location and identification of elements of the countryside
·
- Interpretation of plans and maps
·
- Events observable through the movement of the Earth
Objective
To identify, interpret and depict the main elements of the natural
environment
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 61% correct answers
Easiest question: 87% correct answers
Most difficult question: 35% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
61% correct answers
[col 1]
THE COUNTRYSIDE
Easiest question
Objective
To locate geographical accidents in the Iberian Peninsula
In the map below, which of the letters points to the Pyrenees mountains?
·
- A
1
·
- B
2
·
- C
3
·
- D
4·
Correct answers: 87%
[col 2]
THE COUNTRYSIDE
Most difficult question
Objective
Ability to interpret units of measurement in maps and plans
The proportion between a drawing and the dimensions of the real object is
called:
·
- Map
1
·
- Plan
2
·
- Scale
3·
·
- Legend
4
Correct answers: 35%
[col 3]
THE COUNTRYSIDE
Average difficulty
Objective
To identify different types of map
What does the map below show?
·
- The altitude of the land
1·
·
- The zones where there is most rainfall
2
·
- The road network
3
·
- The climatic zones
4
Correct answers: 62%
POPULATION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
There were 4 questions on
·
- Basic notions of demographic elements
·
- Identification of different economic sectors
·
- Interpretation and analysis of graphs
Objective
Familiarity with and ability to interpret and depict the principal features
of demography and the various sectors of economic activity
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 51% correct answers
Easiest question: 73% correct answers
Most difficult question: 35% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
51% correct answers
[col 1]
POPULATION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Easiest question
Objective
To analyze graphic representations of data
Look at the graph. To what year does the following description belong?
Primary sector predominant, accounting for more than 50% of the working
population
[gráfico}
Evolution of working population by sectors (in %)
Primary sector
Secondary sector
Tertiary sector
·
- 1970
1
·
- 1990
2
·
- 1950
3·
·
- 1980
4
Correct answers: 73%
[col 2]
POPULATION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Most difficult question
Objective
To identify the characterising features of economic sectors
The tertiary sector of a country's economy includes trade, transport, media
and...
·
- industry
1
·
- tourism
2·
·
- fishing
3
·
- mining
4
Correct answers: 35%
[col 3]
POPULATION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Average difficulty
Objective
To interpret graphic representations of historical series
What does the graph say about evolution of the primary sector?
[gráfico}
Evolution of working population by sectors (in %)
Primary sector
Secondary sector
Tertiary sector
·
- It has been constant
1
·
- It has declined continuously
2·
·
- It has grown continuously
3
·
- It declined at first then recovered
4
Correct answers: 57%
SOCIAL ORGANISATION
There were 2 questions on
·
- The political organisation of the state
·
- The territorial organisation of Spain
Objective
Familiarity with and ability to identify the social, political and
territorial organisation of Spain
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 58% correct answers
Easiest question: 60% correct answers
Most difficult question: 56% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
58% correct answers
[col 1]
SOCIAL ORGANISATION
Easiest question
Objective
Familiarity with and ability to identify the political organisation of
Spain
Columns A, B, C and D describe four relationships. In only one all four
pairs are correct. Mark the correct letter.
A
Minister-Government
Senator-Senate
Congressman-Court
Judge-Congress
B
Judge-Court
Congressman-Congress
Minister-Senate
Senator-Government
C
Senator-Senate
Congressman-Congress
Minister-Government
Judge-Court
D
Congressman-Court
Senator-Senate
Judge-Congress
Minister-Government
·
- A
1
·
- B
2
·
- C
3·
·
- D
4
Correct answers: 60%
[col 2]
SOCIAL ORGANISATION
Most difficult question
Objective
Familiarity with and ability to identify the territorial organisation of
Spain
In the map below, which of the following letters mark a single-province
autonomous region?
·
- A
1
·
- B
2
·
- C
3·
·
- D
4
Correct answers: 56%
COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND TRANSPORT
There were 2 questions on
·
- Information Technology: storage and processing of information
·
- Road safety education
Objective
To become familiar with and understand the value of the different
communication and information processing media, and to observe the traffic
rules and signals
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 65% correct answers
Easiest question: 85% correct answers
Most difficult question: 46% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
65% correct answers
[col 1]
COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND TRANSPORT
Easiest question
Objective
Familiarity with and appreciation of the value of information technology
If a company uses a great deal of data in the conduct of its business,
which is the best means of keeping these data?
·
- Folders
1
·
- Computers
2·
·
- A number of employees
3
·
- Diaries
4
Correct answers: 85%
[col 2]
COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND TRANSPORT
Most difficult question
Objective
Familiarity with and observance of the rules of the road
If you are a pedestrian walking on the open road, you should walk on the
part of the road where you are facing the traffic nearest you. Which side
is that?
·
- Right
1
·
- Left
2·
·
- Centre
3
·
- Any one
4
Correct answers: 46%
HISTORICAL CHANGES AND SCENES
There were 9 questions on
·
- Basic aspects of historical time.
Units of measurement
·
- Ways of life in the great historical epochs
·
- Important events in Spanish history
·
- Historical sources
Objective
Ability to recognise changes and transformations connected with the passage
of time
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 90% correct answers
Most difficult question: 43% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
64% correct answers
[col 1]
HISTORICAL CHANGES AND SCENES
Easiest question
Objective
Recognition of changes and transformations connected with the passage of
time
These ships belong to different historical epochs. Can you arrange them in
chronological order from the oldest to the most modern?
·
- C D B A
1
·
- C A B D
2
·
- D B C A
3
·
- D B A C
4·
Correct answers: 90%
[col 2]
HISTORICAL CHANGES AND SCENES
Most difficult question
Objective
Knowledge of basic aspects of historical time
[escala: a.C.=B.C. / d.C.=A.D.]
On the time line below, how many years does each unit represent?
·
- 100
1·
·
- 10
2
·
- 1000
3
·
- 25
4
Correct answers: 43%
[col 3]
HISTORICAL CHANGES AND SCENES
Average difficulty
Objective
Understanding of historical texts
Students are asked to read a text from 1826 describing the jobs that
children performed in London during the early years of the Industrial
Revolution, then answer the question:
What was the basic reason for hiring children for these tasks?
·
- It was a means of ensuring that they
were properly fed and educated1
·
- They learned a trade on which they
could live when they grew up2
·
- Wages were lower, and they were more
submissive than adults and did not
protest3·
·
- There were not enough adults to do
all the jobs that there were4
Correct answers: 62%
What 12-year-old students learn
Natural Sciences
What 12-year-old students learn
NATURAL SCIENCES
The test consisted of 23 questions on
·
- 6 on human beings and health
·
- 7 on the physical environment
·
- 5 on living beings
·
- 4 on materials and their properties
[col 2]
OVERALL TEST
There were 23 questions on
·
- Human beings and health
·
- The physical environment
·
- Living beings, animals and plants
·
- Materials and their properties
Objective
Knowledge of the natural environment and acquisition of the necessary
knowledge to develop habits of hygiene, health and respect for nature
Overall Result
Average test score: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 86% correct answers
Most difficult question: 37% correct answers
Average test score:
64% correct answers
HUMAN BEINGS AND HEALTH
There were 6 questions on
·
- Functioning of the motor system and the digestive, respiratory,
circulatory, excretory and reproductive apparatuses
·
- The effect of certain eating habits or habits of general
hygiene on health
Objective
Understanding of the functioning of the human body. Ability to identify the
main parts by name, and also the functions of each one
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 68% correct answers
Easiest question: 86% correct answers
Most difficult question: 37% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
68% correct answers
[col 1]
HUMAN BEINGS AND HEALTH
Easiest question
Objective
Identification of basic aspects of nutrition
If we ate nothing but meat, would this be good or bad for our bodies?
·
- Bad, because we would lack carbohydrates
and certain vitamins1·
·
- Good, because meat contains everything
we need2
·
- Bad, because we would grow too much
3
·
- Good because it would provide the materials
that we need to grow4
Correct answers: 86%
[col 2]
HUMAN BEINGS AND HEALTH
Most difficult question
Objective
Identification of the functions of the organs in the excretory apparatus
What is the principal function of urine?
·
- To remove water from the blood
1
·
- To remove digestive waste
2
·
- To remove gastric juices from the stomach
3
·
- To remove waste substances from the blood
4·
Correct answers: 37%
[col 3]
HUMAN BEINGS AND HEALTH
Average difficulty
Objective
Recognition of basic aspects of the circulatory apparatus
By means of the circulatory apparatus, the blood
·
- Carries food from the stomach to the intestine
1
·
- Carries nutrients and oxygen to all of the
body's organs2·
·
- Carries oxygen from the nostrils to the lungs
3
·
- Carries waste from the kidneys to the bladder
4
Correct answers: 66%
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
There were 7 questions on
·
- Characteristics and properties of rock, soil and air
·
- The sky, movements of the Earth, the seasons, day and night
·
- Exploitation of natural resources
Objective
Recognition of the principal elements of the natural environment and the
processes whereby changes and transformations take place in the environment
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 63% correct answers
Easiest question: 84% correct answers
Most difficult question: 40% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
63% correct answers
[col 1]
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Easiest question
Objective
Identification of the principal factors of pollution in cities
Fumes gradually gather over the city and sometimes form a layer which hangs
over it. We cannot see this layer but we are exposed to its harmful
effects. How could we prevent this?
·
- By setting up fans to blow away the fumes
1
·
- By limiting the use of cars and heating
2·
·
- By having tall chimneys on houses
3
·
- By using pollutant fuels
4
Correct answers: 84%
[col 2]
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Most difficult question
Objective
Recognition of the conditions required for rain to occur
Clouds are large masses of water vapour. What conditions are necessary for
it to rain?
·
- No wind
1
·
- Formation of tiny drops which fall by
their own weight2·
·
- A lower temperature on the ground than
in the cloud3
·
- A sudden rise in the temperature of the cloud
4
Correct answers: 40%
[col 3]
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Average difficulty
Objective
Identification of the causes of the Earth's movement
What causes there to be seasons?
·
- The Moon revolving around the Earth
1
·
- The inclination of the Earth's axis and
its movement around the Sun2·
·
- The Sun orbiting around the Earth
3
·
- The Earth's spin
4
Correct answers: 57%
[col 1]
LIVING BEINGS
There were 5 questions on
·
- Animals and plants; their development, functions and
classification
·
- Relationships between living beings
·
- Observation of life-forms
Objective
The student should be familiar with the basic characteristics of the
principal plants and animals in the immediate environment
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 64% correct answers
Easiest question: 82% correct answers
Most difficult question: 40% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
64% correct answers
[col 2]
LIVING BEINGS
Easiest question
Objective
Recognition of the principal parts of plants
Which are a flower's reproductory organs?
·
- Corolla and calyx
1
·
- Petals and sepals
2
·
- Stamens and gynaeceum
3·
·
- Petals and corolla
4
Correct answers: 82%
[col 1]
LIVING BEINGS
Most difficult question
Objective
Understanding of the importance of animals for humans
In a terrarium we place plants, a piece of bread and some insects, such as
greenfly, ladybirds, potato beetles and ants. We then study the behaviour
of these living beings and write down our observations:
·
- Greenfly: These live on the plants and feed on the juices in the
stems
·
- Ladybirds: These live among the plants and feed on greenfly
·
- Potato beetles: These live on the plants and feed on their leaves
·
- Ants: These roam all over the terrarium, eating bread and other dead
insects
Which of the insects could we say are good for crops?
·
- Greenfly and ladybirds
1
·
- None
2
·
- Beetles
3
·
- Ladybirds
4·
Correct answers: 40%
[col 2]
LIVING BEINGS
Average difficulty
Objective
Knowledge of the more general classifications in the animal world
All these animals are vertebrates. Which are birds and why?
[dibujos: Bat Duck Lizard Ostrich Frog
·
- Bats and ducks, because they fly
1
·
- Lizards, because they lay eggs
2
·
- Frogs and ducks because they live near water
3
·
- Ducks and ostriches, because they have feathers
4·
Correct answers: 61%
MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
There were 5 questions on
·
- Origin and properties of materials
·
- Mass, volume, weight, etc.
·
- Physical and chemical changes
·
- Uses of materials
Objective
An approach to physical and chemical science through the introduction to
the study of the properties of materials
Overall Result
Average score for this part of the test: 59% correct answers
Easiest question: 70% correct answers
Most difficult question: 44% correct answers
Average score for this part of the test:
59% correct answers
[col 1]
MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
Easiest question
Objective
Analyzing the result of a simple experiment
All the balls below are the same size. Which is the lightest?
·
- A
1
·
- B
2
·
- C
3·
·
- We cannot tell
4
Correct answers: 70%
[col 2]
MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
Most difficult question
Objective
Knowledge of the origin of fuels
Petroleum is a fossil fuel formed from
·
- Plutonium
1
·
- Sea water
2
·
- Gasoline
3
·
- Remains of buried and animals and plants
4·
Correct answers: 44%
[col 3]
MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
Average difficulty
Objective
Knowledge of the properties of materials
Icebergs float on water. Which of the following statements is correct in
this connection?
·
- Ice is not as hard as water
1
·
- Ice is colder and that is why it floats
2
·
- Ice is less dense than water and floats on it
3·
·
- Ice does not always float on water
4
Correct answers: 64%
Methodology
[col 1]
Objectives and Scope
Objectives
·
- To ascertain and assess what students know about Spanish language and
literature, mathematics, social sciences and natural sciences by the
end of the Sixth year of EGB (age 12).
·
- To relate performance levels to contextual factors and educational
processes.
Geographical scope
·
- All Spanish territory except Ceuta and Melilla.
Population scope
·
- All students registered in the Sixth year of EGB in the academic year
1994/1995, except:
- -
- Students registered at schools with less than 10 students in
Second grade of Primary or Sixth grade of EGB.
-
- Students with special educational needs.
·
- Overall, the population excluded form the survey comes to a total of
5%.
[col 2]
Sample design
Sampling type
·
- By conglomerates, stratified in two stages:
- - 1st stage: random selection from schools in the strata.
- - 2nd stage: random selection of a Sixth-year EGB classroom in each
of the schools selected in stage 1.
·
- Stratification of schools by:
- Autonomous Region
- type of school (public or private)
- school size as determined by number of classes
·
- The sample includes:
- -
- students in the selected class with no special educational
needs
- -
- teachers of the assessed subject areas in that class
- -
- managerial staff at the selected schools
- -
- parents of selected students
Sample precision
The purpose of the sampling process was to arrive at estimates of means and
percentages with a confidence coefficient of 95% and the following margins
of error:
·
- nationwide estimators:
-
- Means: ± 0.1s (s: estimation of standard deviation)
-
- Percentages: ± 5%
·
- pre-established sample size:
-
- Autonomous Regions with full responsibility for education: 34
schools
-
- Autonomous Regions where the Ministry of Education is
responsible: 20 schools
-
- Pre-established total: 438 schools
Proportional sample adjusted to the population size within each stratum.
[col 1]
Tests and questionnaires
Tests of knowledge and attitudes
Type of questions: * multiple choice
Question selection process
A set of questions tested in a pilot survey was taken for each area and a
selection made for inclusion in the final test, on the basis of:
·
- their statistical features
-
- how they fit the Item Response Theory (IRT) model
-
- discrimination index, point biserial correlation coefficient
greater than 0.2
-
- similar percentages in the selection of distractors
·
- coverage of all the content blocks
·
- coverage of content types (concepts, procedures and attitudes)
·
- time required for answering
Composition of tests
·
- Language: 61 questions
·
- Mathematics: 37 questions
·
- Social and Natural Sciences
-
- 23 questions on Natural Sciences
-
- 24 questions on Social Sciences
All tests included questions on students' attitudes to the subject matter
concerned.
Context questionnaires
The purpose of these is to gather information on the general educational
context and on educational processes and the educational environment. The
following questionnaires were compiled:
-
- General Student Questionnaire
-
- Teacher Questionnaire
-
- Management Staff Questionnaire
-
- Family Questionnaire
[col 2]
Administration
Dates of administration
·
- May and June 1995
Administration procedure
·
- Morning:
-
- 1st session: Spanish language and literature, 60 minutes
-
- Break
-
- 2nd session: Mathematics, 60 minutes
-
- 3rd session: Context Questionnaire, 30 minutes
·
- Afternoon or morning of the next day:
-
- 4th session: Social and Natural Sciences, 60 minutes
Effective sample size
·
- 437 schools
Quality of estimations of overall performance in the four areas
·
- Confidence coefficient: 95%
·
- Margin of error: ± 1% of estimator value
Reader's note:
The overall average of correct answers in the Language test was 64%. Given
a margin of error of ± 1%, we have stated that the overall average of
correct answers for the whole population was between 63 and 65 per cent.
The degree of certainty of this statement is given by a confidence
coefficient of 95%; this means that if many samples were to be obtained by
the same procedure and the corresponding intervals calculated, 95% would
contain the true average for the population.
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