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Special Interest Group

Assessment

To advance research and scholarly activity that promotes valid, reliable, fair and equitable assessment, ensuring that assessment supports learning, provides trustworthy evidence of achievement, creating opportunities for all learners to fulfil their potential.

Assessment plays a central role in education systems, shaping teaching, learning, progression and opportunities for learners. The SIG aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and assessment professionals to advance understanding of assessment in all its forms, from classroom assessment and feedback to high-stakes qualifications, digital assessment and assessment policy. The SIG will provide a forum for critical debate, collaboration and knowledge exchange on contemporary assessment challenges and innovations.

Research interests

Including but not exclusive of:

  • Assessment validity, reliability and fairness
  • Standards, comparability and maintaining standards over time
  • Innovative approaches to assessment and credentialing
  • Formative assessment and feedback
  • Teacher assessment and professional judgement
  • Assessment literacy for teachers and learners
  • Fairness and accessibility in assessment
  • Inclusive assessment design
  • Ethics of educational assessment
  • Public understanding and trust in qualifications and assessment systems
  • Assessment and social justice
  • International longitudinal tests and comparative analysis
  • Digital and onscreen assessment
  • Artificial intelligence and assessment
  • International assessment policy and practice
  • Emerging technologies and innovative assessment methods
  • Assessment in a changing educational landscape

Aims

The SIG will facilitate seminars, workshops, conference symposia and other regular events to support collaboration and knowledge exchange among assessment researchers and practitioners. It will provide opportunities to:

  • Share and discuss assessment research.
  • Create opportunities for dialogue between researchers, practitioners, regulators and awarding bodies.
  • Support collaborative publications, research proposals and impact activities.
  • Foster the development of early career researchers with interests in assessment.

This SIG aims to establish a vibrant community for those interested in the theory, practice and future development of educational assessment across all phases and contexts of education.

SIG Convenors

Profile picture of Mary Richardson
Mary Richardson, Professor

Professor of Educational Assessment at University College London

Mary is Professor of Educational Assessment in the Dept for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment at UCL Institute of Education in London. She teaches on the MA in Assessment and supervises doctoral students interested in assessment, ethics and...

Profile picture of Emma Rawlings Smith
Emma Rawlings Smith, Dr

Lead Researcher at Aqa

Emma is Lead Researcher at AQA and spends her time focused on research on educational assessment for the largest exam board in the UK. Prior to this, Emma has worked as a geography teacher educator and researcher in Higher Education and as a...

Content associated with this SIG