Test-takers' reactions to a placement test

Abstract

Reactions to tests can have effects on test scores, motivation and relationships, and these reactions can conceivably be affected by various aspects of tests and the testing situation. In the present study, questionnaires were used to elicit reactions on various dimensions from Italian and Spanish teenagers to test items used as part of placement procedures. The data indicated that a C-test was the most negatively rated on most dimensions by all groups, and that this reaction seemed to relate most strongly to the perceived difficulty of the test. Reactions of lower-scoring students were more negative than those of higher- scoring, although the differences were not so great on the more evaluative dimensions. No gender differences were identified, and there were few differ ences between reactions of Italian and Spanish students, or the most and least nervous groups. Data on the effects of a longer time limit and first language instructions was inconclusive.