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CASE Revealed, Case Closed

Educational consultant and writer Gerald Bracey, who has been involved in testing for 25 years, says of the CASE test: “I have never, ever, seen such shoddy work.”

Here are a few examples from the CASE test, with commentary from Bracey. (Note: instructions tell students to choose only one answer to each question.)

What major landforms are found in most of Europe?

A. Plateaus. B. Plains. C. Hills. D. Mountains.

First, what constitutes “most of Europe?” Most countries? Most land area? Never mind. While “plains” might be a stretch (but not so much if one includes the Steppes), the other three answers are correct. Indeed, the question instructs the student to pick more than one answer by indicating “landforms” in the plural. The instructions, though, repeatedly insist that only one answer be chosen.</p