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Project History

The Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project was formed as a joint project of The California State University and the University of California in 1977. The charge to the workgroup included determining mathematics areas in which competency was necessary for success in certain mathematics courses and developing diagnostic tests over these areas. By 1986 a series of four tests had been released to California schools.

The tests were originally developed by a workgroup with the financial support of the two California public university systems. In recent years, test development activities of this workgroup have also been supported by fees from California Community Colleges which use MDTP tests. The workgroup members include mathematics faculty from the California public universities, community colleges, and high schools, and university science faculty. The workgroup is assisted in its test development by the consulting services of an expert in mathematics testing from the Educational Testing Service.

Every test that is released by MDTP is first field-tested, revised, and field-tested and revised again, if necessary. One essential criterion to be satisfied by each test is that its topics and items are necessary for success in subsequent mathematics courses. The face validity of the tests’ content is evidenced by the composition of the workgroup and by the widespread acceptance and use of the tests throughout California. Every campus of the University of California, approximately two-fifths of the campuses of The California State University, and approximately three-fifths of the campuses of the California Community Colleges use at least one of the MDTP tests as part of their orientation process for entering students. In addition more than 4,700 high school and middle school teachers chose to administer MDTP tests to their students in 1996-97.

Since 1982 MDTP has offered its tests and scoring services to California high schools. Individual diagnostic reports are provided for students as well as detailed item analyses and summary reports for teachers. The student reports indicate areas in which students did well and those areas in which the test results suggest a need for further study in order to be prepared for future coursework. The summary reports have been used by teachers to help identify areas of the curriculum that seem to be working well and other areas or topics where changes may be needed. Software that scores the tests and produces individual student diagnostic reports is available for use in California postsecondary schools and other educational institutions.

 
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