The stakes are high, the investment enormous, and the potential for providing more equitable opportunity for examinees with disabilities has never been greater. ETS is excited about its leadership role in this new generation of tests and is committed to assuring access to its technology- based services. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of examinees with disabilities taking ETS tests. This increase can be attributed, in part, to advances in identifying and diagnosing learning related disabilities that had previously remained 'hidden'. Early intervention and remediation have helped millions of people rise to new levels of success in a previously inaccessible system of education.
Standardized tests play a profound role in shaping the destiny of many individuals.
Tests measure the effects of past learning and how well an individual can perform various related skills. College admission tests, for example, are used to measure a candidate's academic skill assets and liabilities. Subsequently, low scores on an entrance exam can have a serious impact on a student's post-secondary track. Another example of high stakes tests are those used for occupational credentialling. These exams are used by licensing and certification boards to determine eligibility to practice certain professions or vocations.