This book highlights the impact of policy and politics on assessment across the globe. With contributions from England, the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wales, it explores state-led assessment policies and practices that have been the subject of much debate. We are experiencing a shift from using assessments - especially national tests - as measurement instruments designed to produce information, to a reliance on tests to influence policy and instruction. Once tests become high stakes - for students, teachers, and schools - even those that might have been reasonable monitors of educational success can lose dependability and credibility. However, not all countries' assessment policies follow the same model and the contributors explore and analyse a range of different national (and supra-national) assessment policy approaches and perspectives. The chapters identify the impetus behind changing assessment policies and practices and analyse ways forward and innovative approaches. Readers can draw their own conclusions about which model(s) can provide the best outcomes for learners - surely the most important part of the equation. This book was originally published as a special issue of Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.

This book highlights the impact of policy and politics on assessment across the globe. With contributions from England, the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wales, it explores state-led assessment policies and practices that have been the subject of much debate. We are experiencing a shift from using assessments - especially national tests - as measurement instruments designed to produce information, to a reliance on tests to influence policy and instruction. Once tests become high stakes - for students, teachers, and schools - even those that might have been reasonable monitors of educational success can lose dependability and credibility. However, not all countries' assessment policies follow the same model and the contributors explore and analyse a range of different national (and supra-national) assessment policy approaches and perspectives. The chapters identify the impetus behind changing assessment policies and practices and analyse ways forward and innovative approaches. Readers can draw their own conclusions about which model(s) can provide the best outcomes for learners - surely the most important part of the equation. This book was originally published as a special issue of Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice.

Key Concepts in Educational Assessment provides expert definitions and interpretations of common terms within the policy and practice of educational assessment. Concepts such as validity, assessment for learning, measurement, comparability and differentiation are discussed, and there is broad coverage of UK and international terminology. Drawing on the considerable expertise of the authors, the entries provide:

- clear definitions

- accounts of the key issues

- authoritative and reliable information

- suggestions for further reading

Created to support students of education on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and established education professionals including those who are members of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA), this book is an accessible guide for anyone engaged in educational assessment.

Tina Isaacs is Director of the MA in Educational Assessment at the Institute of Education, London.

Catherine Zara was most recently Director of the MA in Educational Assessment and Director of the BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education and Training at the University of Warwick.

Graham Herbert was most recently Director of the CIEA.

Steve J. Coombs is Head of Department for Continuing Professional Development at Bath Spa University, which offers an MA in Educational Assessment.

Charles Smith is senior lecturer in economics and education at Swansea Metropolitan University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Key Concepts in Educational Assessment provides expert definitions and interpretations of common terms within the policy and practice of educational assessment. Concepts such as validity, assessment for learning, measurement, comparability and differentiation are discussed, and there is broad coverage of UK and international terminology. Drawing on the considerable expertise of the authors, the entries provide:

- clear definitions

- accounts of the key issues

- authoritative and reliable information

- suggestions for further reading

Created to support students of education on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and established education professionals including those who are members of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA), this book is an accessible guide for anyone engaged in educational assessment.

Tina Isaacs is Director of the MA in Educational Assessment at the Institute of Education, London.

Catherine Zara was most recently Director of the MA in Educational Assessment and Director of the BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education and Training at the University of Warwick.

Graham Herbert was most recently Director of the CIEA.

Steve J. Coombs is Head of Department for Continuing Professional Development at Bath Spa University, which offers an MA in Educational Assessment.

Charles Smith is senior lecturer in economics and education at Swansea Metropolitan University of Wales Trinity Saint David.