Cultural Differences in Student Assessment

• There are cultural differences that can impact how accurately a student understands a task or requirement.
• Some examples of cultural differences that can impact how a student understands a task or requirement include expectations in items that assume prior experiences or values that are common in the U.S., and expectations in items that assume a value system that is typically endorsed in the U.S.
• When cultural expectations are different from those typically experienced by the mainstream population in the U.S., problems can arise in the assessment of student achievement.
• Item writers often are unaware of the impact of cultural expectations on the accuracy of student assessment, and must take steps to minimize the impact of these differences.
• One way to minimize the impact of cultural differences on the accuracy of student assessment is to change the context or wording of an item, or to clarify expectations for responses to a problem whose context is set in a cultural experience.

Explore how cultural differences can influence a student's understanding of tasks or requirements, impacting the accuracy of their assessment. Learn about the potential impact of cultural expectations on student achievement and how item writers can mitigate these differences.