Frequently Asked TABE Questions & Answers

from: Frequently-Asked-Questions about TABE, CTB/McGraw-Hill

Question:
What’s the difference between the Complete Battery and the Survey?

Answer:
The Survey edition is a shortened form of TABE that was composed from a subset of the items found in the Complete Battery. Administering the Survey takes about half the time of the Complete Battery. Both the Survey and the Complete Battery measure the same content areas, but the Survey has fewer questions. Because the Survey is shorter, it does not provide the breadth of coverage for each objective that is found in the Complete Battery. Both editions are on the same normative scale and therefore may be used in pre-test/post-test situations, e.g., pre-test with Complete Battery, Form 7 and post-test with Survey, Form 8.

Question:
When should I use the Complete Battery, and when should I use the Survey?

Answer:
Use the Complete Battery when high-stakes decisions are an issue (such as acceptance into an academic program), when you have three hours to administer a test, when you need detailed objective mastery information, or when test results are likely to be challenged. Use the Survey if testing time is short, if you are screening for program entry/exit, or using a pre-test/post-test model where the Survey would be your post-test. In other words, use the Survey when decisions are low-stakes, broad-brush information is sufficient, and test results are unlikely to be challenged.