Beyond the Big Test: Noncognitive Assessment in Higher Education

William E. Sedlacek--one of the nation's leading authorities on the topic of noncognitive assessment--challenges the use of the SAT and other standardized tests as the sole assessment tool for college and university admissions. In Beyond the Big Test, Sedlacek presents a noncognitive assessment method that can be used in concert with the standardized tests. This assessment measures what students know by evaluating what they can do and how they deal with a wide range of problems in different contexts. Beyond the Big Test is filled with examples of assessment tools and illustrative case studies that clearly show how educators have used this innovative method to:

• Select a class diverse on dimensions of race, gender, and culture in a practical, legal, and ethical way
• Teach a diverse class employing techniques that reach all students
• Counsel and advise students in ways that consider their culture, race, and gender
• Award financial aid to students with potential who do not necessarily have the highest grades and test scores
• Assess the readiness of an institution to educate and provide services for a diverse student body

William E. Sedlacek is professor of counseling and personnel services in the College of Education and assistant director of the Counseling Center, both at the University of Maryland. He has authored more than one hundred articles on the topic of noncognitive assessment and is one of the leading authorities in the field.