Pretest and Posttest Confidence Ratings in Test Performance by Low-,Medium-,and High-Scoring Students

Abstract

Before and after taking 12 successive tests, 90 introductory psychology students rated their level of confidence in passing each test. Students were divided into high, medium, and low groups based on their semester test scores. Students in the high group had higher ratings and were better able to predict their average performance than students in the low and medium groups. Ratings for all students averaged across the 12 tests correlated significantly with average test scores, but students were unable to evaluate their readiness for taking individual tests. Results suggest that ratings were based primarily on students' assessments of the relative difficulty of the test material and on their general ability in the course, rather than on the effectiveness of their study.