ABSTRACT
It would be difficult to identify an educational topic that receives more concern in contemporary societies than that of assessment. The growth of free trade since the Second World War and the competition between states that it has brought in its wake have focused the minds of governments on those factors that contribute to economic effectiveness. Rightly or wrongly, education is now widely thought to be a key determinant of economic success. Everyone wants a good ‘return’ from their investment in education in order to stay ahead or even to keep their place in global economic competition. On an individual level educational success brings the prospect of a well-paid job in a labour market where the unskilled have fewer opportunities.
