Developing competency-based placement tests for machine shop training

This article is a case history of the development of a test package to be used in identifying the aptitudes, competencies, and remedial services required by prospective enrollees in a machine shop training program. Three community college districts, working as a consortium on a project entitled the Competency-Based Vocational Education Assessment Project (CBVEAP), identified the minimum competencies for enrollment in machine shop training and developed test instruments to help predict successful completion of the training and subsequent employment. The consortium researched, developed, and field tested a written test and a listening test. The results were computer analyzed and revised tests were produced. This article lists the competencies required at the time of enrollment in machine shop training and provides samples of the CBVEAP Machine Shop Written and Listening Tests. Also included are samples of two additional assessment tests, addressing manual dexterity and spoken English proficiency, which may be used to augment the CBVEAP tests.