Effects of Practice and Intellectual Growth on Performance on the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT)

Abstract

Summary: The purpose of the study is to examine effects of repeated test taking over several sessions on the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT). Self-selection effects on test performance due to background variables that must be taken into consideration are also investigated. All test repeaters with two and three test scores from three cohorts are included in the study. By using different regression models a distinction can be made between the effects of practice as a function of test-taking experience, and the effects of growth as a function of time. The results show self-selection effects due to age and grades, such that students with higher grades tend to be younger when taking the first test. Furthermore, this phenomenon tends to be more accentuated with repeated test takings. It is also shown that there are score gains as a function of practice at the first testing session, and that there are also effects of growth on the SweSAT performance. The magnitude of score gains associated with growth is equal over the two intervals measured, but different between the three cohorts. There are reasons to assume that effects of schooling may explain these differences. An additional explanation may be that the younger students have a greater potential for growth.