Development and Standardization of Mathematics Achievement Test for Unified Senior Secondary School Class 2 Promotion Examination in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Advancement in science and technology is what can bring about rapid transformation of any country. Mathematics is a veritable tool in the understanding of science and technology. Despite the importance, the trend of secondary school students’ performance in Mathematics in external examinations is worrisome. Perhaps, non-availability of standardized achievement test for formative assessment or for promoting the students to the certificate class could be the cause. The purpose of this study was to develop and standardize Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) for unified senior secondary school class 2 promotion examination in Ondo State. Seventy five SSS2 students randomly selected from Akoko metropolis of the state constituted the sample. MAT for SSS2 was the instrument for this study. The instrument was developed and standardized following various stages of test development and standardization processes. Out of the initial 75 items drafted, 50 items formed the final MAT. The final MAT was valid and reliable. The reliability coefficients were (0.97 and 0.89) using test retest and Kuder-Richardson-20 methods of reliability respectively. From the results obtained, the following conclusions were drawn: The MAT was developed by the researcher, the validated test items were in line with the mathematics curriculum for senior secondary school class 2 students in Ondo State, the developed and validated MAT exhibited good measure of difficulty and discrimination indices. Based on the findings and the conclusion of this study, it was recommended among others that the developed MAT should be used by mathematics teachers teaching senior secondary school class two students in Ondo State and the examination unit of the Ondo State Ministry of Education should make use of this MAT to improve on the quality of their examinations.