Reviews the revised edition of the Test of Reading Comprehension (TORC). Finds the test to be an interesting and unique approach to the assessment of reading comprehension. Notes that the test is consistent with current philosophies related to the nature of reading comprehension. (RS)

Concludes that inferential reading test questions are as likely to be passage dependent as factual test questions. (MKM)

Describes the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests and evaluates their suitability for testing reading, concluding that they appear to be carefully developed survey tests of general reading achievement. (DD)

Reports an overall positive response to the tests reviewed, with caveats regarding test reliability and validity. (AEA)

Finds that many commercial reading comprehension test items are not passage dependent. (RB)

Provides information about the existence, purposes, and design of state mandated reading assessment programs. (MKM)

Reports on available and forthcoming computer software packages for reading assessment, in the areas of informal reading inventories, comprehensive assessment packages for decoding, an open-ended test generation program, diagnostic simulation, and expert systems. Offers ideas for learning about assessment techniques. (SR)

Discusses the role of Canadian teachers' organizations in influencing possible legislation about competency testing. (MKM)

Describes the competency-based approach to reading programs used in Maryland. (MKM)

Finds the revised Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test an improvement over the original edition. (AEA)

Comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the reading portions of the California Achievement Tests. (JT)

Suggests five criteria for teachers to keep in mind when choosing passages for the cloze procedure. (MKM)

Reviews materials from Multiscore, a criterion-referenced testing service which produces tests tailored to particular schools or districts from its item bank of more than 20,000 multiple-choice items. Discusses technical considerations, use of Multiscore in local school districts, and evaluation and conclusions. (SR)

Consists of practical classroom techniques. Topics covered are: (1) reading/studies skills techniques for college freshmen, (2) teaching main ideas, (3) a team approach to content area reading, (4) readers theatre, (5) survival skills, (6) passage dependence tests, (7) leisure reading, and (8) using music in informal diagnosis and motivation. (MKM)

Reports on a study that examined differences in the comprehension scores achieved by seventh and eighth grade students on Form 1 and Form 3 of the Gates-MacGinitie, Level E. (HOD)