01 / Reading Guide
Reading Guide
Educational assessment: align a judgement with its evidence
Compare a free higher-education guide, a formative-assessment book and a measurement text, then test original grading weights and marking uncertainty.
Study route and exercise: University Reading List editorial project.
Who this book is for
For higher education teachers and students of educational assessment who want to connect theoretical ideas with actual judgement of work. McConlogue treats shared understanding of academic standards as central to design and marking. The guide supports a teaching team’s professional inquiry rather than promising that one rubric will make all judgements mechanically objective.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of university teaching and assessment is recommended. You should be able to identify a learning outcome and examine a sample assignment. Prior teaching experience is helpful but not a formal entry requirement.
What it covers
The book considers assessment across modules and programmes, students’ understanding of standards, inclusive design, reliable marking and feedback that helps develop evaluative judgement. Activities encourage teachers to investigate their practice with colleagues and students. Calibration and examples make standards discussable, while the link between theory and practice provides questions for examining why a particular assessment arrangement succeeds or disappoints.
How to use it
Choose one assignment and trace the link between its learning outcomes, task, marking criteria and feedback. Ask two readers to judge anonymised work independently, then discuss the evidence behind differences rather than simply averaging scores. Revise the task or guidance in response. Plan how students will use feedback in a later piece of work and what observation could show that the change helps. Examine whether the format disadvantages a group without contributing to the intended learning outcome.
Edition and sources
UCL Press published the complete book in May 2020, with the PDF ISBN stated separately from print and EPUB formats. The file names CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; follow that specific licence and third-party notices rather than the copyright page’s inconsistent explanatory wording about commercial adaptation. The guide is situated in higher education and needs thoughtful adjustment before use in other sectors. Official complete reading route.
