FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of High-Stakes Testing?

1. It is used for purely diagnostic purposes.

2. Results have no impact on students or schools.

3. It may determine promotion, certification, or graduation.

4. It always involves multiple-choice questions.

The correct answer is: It may determine promotion, certification, or graduation.

High-stakes testing is fundamentally characterized by its significant impact on students and educational institutions. When it can determine crucial outcomes such as promotion, certification, or graduation, it is categorized as "high-stakes." The implications of these tests are considerable; they can affect a student's academic trajectory and opportunities, making the stakes much higher than mere performance assessments. In contrast, the other options do not align with the characteristics of high-stakes testing. For instance, diagnostic purposes are essential for understanding student abilities but are not the primary aim of high-stakes assessments, which focus on accountability. Similarly, results from high-stakes tests carry substantial weight and consequences, directly influencing school funding, teacher evaluations, and student placement. Lastly, while some high-stakes tests may include multiple-choice questions, they can also incorporate various question types (e.g., essays, performance tasks), which is not a defining characteristic of high-stakes assessments. Thus, the essence of high-stakes testing lies in its substantial consequences rather than its format or purpose.