Trial Testing

It is an exercise in which procedures and instruments are pretested on a proportion of the target population. The instruments may be question papers or any data collection tool. In a typical trial test, instruments are administered to a small group of individuals that has similar characteristics to the target population. Through trial testing , it is therefore ensured that appropriate questions are asked, a suitable data collection is used, and the right data is collected.

Objectives of Trial Testing

1. Identify and get rid of mistakes that may compromise the quality of live instruments.

2. Make corrections and necessary adjustments and revisions to the procedures.

3. Determine how long it may take to collect information using the instrument in question.

4. Establish how easy or difficult it may be to answer questions or supply the required information.

5. Improve the usefulness, reliability and validity of data collected for performance measurement.

Test Administration Preparations by the School

1. Inform the test takers

2. Make sure that adequate and appropriate classrooms/school hall is available

3. Arrange students according to their PSLE examination numbers.

4. Provide back-up stationery such as HB pencils, erasers and wall clocks where necessary.

5. Inform BEC on the number of students available for the test, number of pupils with special needs, types of special needs to be catered for.

6. Adhere to the specified conditions for administration of tests.

7. Provide any other information that may need to be addressed during the administration of the test.

Preparations by Botswana Examinations Council

1. Identify the sample

2. Administer the test

3. Note feedback

4. Provide all necessary materials for the administration of the test such as mark sheets, lined papers to work on, question papers, stationery such as pencils, erasers and wall clocks.