考试成绩正态分布的误用及评价改进对策

The Misuse of Normal Distribution of Course Test Scores in Higher Education and Suggestions for Improvement

当前一些高校规定,要求学生课程考试成绩必须符合正态分布。正态分布是一种连续随机变量的概率分布,其统计分布呈现为中间多、两头少的特点。根据考试目的,可以将考试分为合格水平考试和甄别选拔考试两种类型。对于高等教育领域人才培养而言,课程考试通常属于合格水平考试,学生为特定群体且人数不多,其成绩一般不呈现正态分布。因此,要求课程考试成绩必须符合正态分布的规定并不科学合理,对于教师的教与学生的学还可能带来负面影响。基于此,推动高校课程考试改革要弱化其甄别选拔功能、强化合格达标功能,还应综合运用多种考试评价方式,重视形成性评价。

At present,teaching management in some colleges and universities stipulates that course test scores must conform to the normal distribution characteristics.The normal distribution is a probability distribution of a continuous random variable with the statistical distribution characterized by"more in the middle,less at both ends".According to the purpose of the test,the test can be divided into two types:the qualification test and the selection test.For cultivating talents in higher education,course exams are usually considered qualification tests,and student groups are specific and small.As a result,their scores are generally not normally distributed.Therefore,it is not scientific and reasonable for the course examination results to comply with the management regulations of the normal distribution,and this regulation has a negative impact on both teachers'teaching and students'learning.Based on this,the examination evaluation of regular courses in colleges and universities should weaken its selection functions,strengthen its qualification functions,and comprehensively apply a variety of examination evaluation methods,especially focusing on a formative evaluation.