Assessment training: Intermediate statistics for assessment

Assessment training: Intermediate statistics for assessment

Speakers: Joanna Williamson (Research Officer)
Date: 22 Jan 2019 Venue: Cambridge Assessment The Triangle Building, Shaftesbury Road Cambridge CB2 8EA
Time: 09:30 - 12:30
Type: Training event Fee: £70.00

This session covers statistical topics that build directly upon basic statistics knowledge, and are important in assessment. The teaching approach will make clear conceptual connections between topics, and focus on a series of key assessment applications. Throughout the workshop, you’ll carry out a mixture of shorter and longer practical exercises to support your understanding.

Workshop outline

Statistical topics

Assessment applications

1. Mapping and transforming marks

a) Motivations

b) Types of mapping: linear, segmented linear, non-linear

Aggregation of unit results, Uniform mark scales, tier equating, scaling centre marks, comparable outcomes
2. Correlation Comparing unit results

3. Hypothesis testing

a) Statistical significance

b) Using different distributions: normal, chi-squared, and student's t-distribution

Basic research questions, marker monitoring

Key learning outcomes

  • Know about the statistics and assumptions that underpin Uniform Mark Scales, tier equating, comparable outcomes, and scaling
  • Feel more confident and informed about statistical terms used within Cambridge Assessment
  • Understand the principle of hypothesis testing and how this is useful in assessment

Joanna Williamson was an excellent presenter - clear, knowledgeable, logical. The presentation was well structured and had a good balance of exercises for the subject.

Intended audience

This session is intended for assessment professionals and others working in education who have significant assessment responsibilities.

As it is a technical course, participants should take careful note of the prerequisites listed below and the course outline, to check whether the course is a good match for their needs and interests.

Prerequisites

To benefit from this workshop, you should understand:

  • Percentages
  • Cumulative frequency
  • The normal distribution
  • Mean and standard deviation

Cambridge Assessment Network's course Basic Statistics covers these topics to the necessary level of depth. If you would like to refresh your knowledge of these topics, the following list shows some publicly-available resources that cover the necessary material:

Topic Resources
Percentages Revision notes from BBC Bitesize 
Cumulative frequency

Revision notes from BBC Bitesize

Multiple choice quiz (To access the quiz, the website ‘Diagnostic Questions’ will ask you to sign up for a free account. If you don’t want to sign up, you can access a non-interactive pdf version of the same quiz here.)

The normal distribution Topic review at the right level by Khan Academy. It includes questions to check your understanding.
Mean and standard deviation


Revision notes and practice questions from BBC Bitesize here and here

Mean recap by Khan Academy

Standard deviation recap by Khan Academy

Course trainer

Joanna Williamson - Research OfficerDr Joanna Williamson is a Research Officer at Cambridge Assessment, working in the Educational Measurement team. Her research projects use statistical analyses of assessment data to look at questions such as the impact of AS and A Level reform, the effects of mark scheme differences, and relationships between students’ school qualifications and their progression to further/higher education and employment.

Joanna holds an MMath in Mathematics, and also a PGCE, from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Southampton.

The Triangle Building, Shaftesbury Road Cambridge CB2 8EA

Related links

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