Predicting Individual Wellbeing Through Test Scores : Evidence from a National Assessment in Mexico
This paper constructs two longitudinal datasets that record students' test scores in a national standardized exam in Mexico and track students from the end of primary (Grade 6) to the end of lower (Grade 9) and upper (Grade 12) secondary schoo...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/430991527704569745/Predicting-individual-wellbeing-through-test-scores-evidence-from-a-national-assessment-in-Mexico http://hdl.handle.net/10986/29888 |
| Summary: | This paper constructs two longitudinal
datasets that record students' test scores in a
national standardized exam in Mexico and track students from
the end of primary (Grade 6) to the end of lower (Grade 9)
and upper (Grade 12) secondary school, then to university
and labor market participation up to two years after
graduation from upper secondary. The results show that test
scores are a strong predictor of future education and labor
market outcomes. Using a large sample of twins in the data,
the paper shows that the relationship between Grade 6 test
scores and future education outcomes goes beyond family
background. Finally, the paper exploits the
within-individual correlation between subject test scores
and finds evidence that this standardized assessment
captures in a meaningful way the specific skills that it is
designed to measure. These results show that, despite their
limitations, large-scale standardized tests can capture
skills that are important for future individual wellbeing. |
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