Abstract
To determine the effects on test performance and test validity of releasing essay topics before a writing examination, researchers asked 300 prospective graduate students to write 2 essays, 1 on a previously unseen topic and 1 on a topic that was made available about 2 weeks before the test. Although for each of the 4 essay topics studied, performance was slightly better when a topic had been disclosed, overall analyses did not reveal any statistically significant effect of disclosure on test performance. Consequently, there was no detectable effect of disclosure on the relation of test performance to several independent indicators of writing skill. Limitations of the study are discussed in terms of its generalizability to a high-stakes testing situation and the extent to which it addressed both the positive and the negative effects of disclosure.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
