Analysis of Accuracy of MidYIS Tests Essay -- Papers

Analysis of Accuracy of MidYIS Tests Introduction This essay is an exploration into the relevance of MidYIS tests as a predictor for results at GCSE Music. A comparison will be made between two sets of skills: those assessed by the MidYIS test - taken by most children in England at the beginning of year 9 - and those which, according to exam boards and experienced music educators, are tested at GCSE. Certain fundamental skills required for success at GCSE Music cannot be tested in the MidYIS tests, and I would suggest that a combination of MidYIS-type testing, musical intelligence assessment and some measure of the amount and quality of musical experience gained before embarking on the GCSE course would serve as a much more relevant indicator of likely success, and a more appropriate baseline from which to measure value added. However, the term 'success' needs defining - many pupils who are excellent musicians even before they reach year 9 may not obtain the highest marks at GCSE, and this begs the question, what exactly does GCSE music test, the musicality of a pupil (which will be discussed with reference to Howard Gardner's theories of multiple intelligence) or a pupil's ability to 'jump through the hoops' required to do well in this type of exam? Schools continually have their statistics compared, and the practice of comparing 'value added' through the means of a baseline test, is undoubtedly fairer than simply comparing final results. However, if, as I will argue, the baseline test is largely meaningless, music departments should not be put in the difficult position of having to justify any statistical 'evidence' of underac... ...GCSE? What is missing in the MidYIS and Bentley that is fundamental to GCSE? Sum up how you could do a research project into MidYIS' relevance to each section of the exam paper. Conclude on whether the MidYIS test is important. --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS/ (accessed on 22 May 2002) [2] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS/documents/newsletter6.doc (accessed on 23 May 2002, published January 2000) [3] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS/Psa.htm (accessed on 22 May 2002) [4] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS/documents/newsletter6.doc (accessed on 23 May 2002, published January 2000) [5] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS (accessed on 25 May) [6] http://cem.dur.ac.uk/MidYIS/documents/newsletter7.doc (accessed on 23 May 2002, published Spring 2000)