University Examinations and Standardized Testing: Principles, Experience, and Policy Options. World Bank Technical Paper Number 78. Proceedings of a Seminar on the Uses of Standardized Tests and Selection Examinations (Beijing, China, April 1985).

In September 1984, the Chinese government asked the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank to assist the officials of the Chinese Ministry of Education in thinking through some policy options for examinations and standardized testing. This document summarizes the descriptions of testing programs and advice provided to these Chinese officials at a meeting held in April 1985. In addition to an introduction by S. P. Heyneman and I. Fagerlind, the following papers are provided: (1) "Admission to Higher Education in Japan" (T. Hidano); (2) "Examinations for University Selection in England" (J. L. Reddaway); (3) "Admission to Higher Education in the United States: The Role of the Educational Testing Service" (R. J. Solomon); (4) "Public Examinations in Australia" (J. P. Keeves); (5) "Education in Sweden: Assessment of Student Achievement and Selection for Higher Education" (S. Marklund); (6) "A Brief Introduction to the System of Higher School Enrollment Examinations in China" (L. Zhen); (7) "Designing the English Language Proficiency Test in China" (G. Shichun); (8) "Assessing the Quality of Education over Time: The Role of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)" (A. E. LaPointe); (9) "Cross-National Comparisons in Educational Achievement: The Role of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)" (J. P. Keeves); (10) "Examinations as an Instrument To Improve Pedagogy" (A. Somerset); and (11) "Improving University Selection, Educational Research, and Educational Management in Developing Countries: The Role of Examinations and Standardized Testing" (S. P. Heyneman). Collectively, the papers contain 31 tables and 13 figures. (SLD)