DETERMINATION OF NORMATIVE SCORES OF THE DEVELOPED STANDARDIZED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT TEST (MAT)

Abstract

The roles of norm scores in the interpretation and comparison of test scores in education assessment motivated the researchers to conduct this study. The design of the study was an instrumentation research design. Five hundred and ten (510) SS2 students selected from public and private schools across the three education zones of Ebonyi State were sampled for the study. The population of the study was all the SS2 students in their third term of SS2 class. Three research questions guided the study. The instrument for data collection was the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education-developed MAT achievement test. Data collected were analyzed using the SPSS computer package. The analysis yielded the mean, standard deviation and the transformed standard scores (Z-scores, T-scores, Percentile Ranks and Stanine ranks). Based on the outcome of this study, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education was advised to integrate these developed norm values into the components of this MATS standardized test; develop a norm-referenced standardized test in all subjects taught in schools in the state; and mandate the State Universal Basic Education Board to develop norm-reference scores for the unified examination for basic schools to raise the standard of their test instrument.