Major Field Achievement Test
Spring 2006 Results
Department average: 164 (90th percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 173.3 (95th percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 136 (10th percentile nationally)
4 students (3 seniors, 1 junior) took the test
The department averages for previous years look like this:
| Year |
Seniors Percentile |
Juniors |
Seniors |
Total |
| 2000: |
- |
147.0 |
- |
147.0 |
| 2001: |
75% |
140.0 |
153.2 |
148.1 |
| 2002: |
54% |
152.8 |
148.5 |
152.0 |
| 2003: |
71% |
156.2 |
152.3 |
153.8 |
| 2004: |
83% |
148.4 |
159.6 |
156.3 |
| 2005: |
62% |
149.9 |
153.4 |
151.2 |
| 5yr Total: |
67% |
- |
154.4 |
- |
Details on the results appear below.
What is it?
Every Spring (usually before break), our department asks all
current junior and senior computer science students to take the
Major Field Achievement Test in computer science, which is
administered by the Educational Testing Service
(ETS).
The test takes 2 hours, is multiple-choice, on-line, and covers
a variety of topics in computer science. We do not want you to
study for the test.
Why?
Our department uses the results of the test (aggregate data
only) to assess our computer science curriculum. It is a way to
compare our program with other computer science programs around the
country. The goal is to make our major program better.
Who Sees My Scores?
Aside from the professor (currently Jon Sorenson) who proctors
the test, no one besides the student will know the score. Only
averages and similar aggregate data are shared with the rest of the
department for assessment purposes.
Complete Test Results
Note that all national percentiles are comparisons at other
institutions, but only with seniors.
We include 4th and 5th year EDDP students as seniors.
Spring 2005 Results
Department average: 151.2 (52nd percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 153.4 (62nd percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 149.9 (47th percentile nationally)
13 students (5 seniors, 8 juniors) took the test
Spring 2004 Results
Department average: 156.3 (72nd percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 159.6 (83rd percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 148.4 (42nd percentile nationally)
15 students (10 seniors, 5 juniors) took the test
Spring 2003 Results
Some students took leftover tests from the previous year, and
some took the new test. The results are broken down by test.
New Test
Department average: 145.1 (38th percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 144.8 (38th percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 148.3 (46th percentile nationally)
8 students (5 seniors, 3 juniors) took this test
Old Test
Department average: 164.1 (96th percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 162.5 (95th percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 164.7 (96th percentile nationally)
7 students (4 seniors, 3 juniors) took this test
Overall
We took the scores from the new test, converted them to
percentiles, and then converted to the equivalent scores from the
old test, and from that data computed averages.
Department average: 153.8 (77th percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 152.3 (71st percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 156.2 (82nd percentile nationally)
15 students (9 seniors, 6 juniors) took a test
Spring 2002 Results
Department average: 152 (71st percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 148.5 (54th percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 152.75 (75th percentile nationally)
12 students (4 seniors, 8 juniors) took the test
Spring 2001 Results
Department average: 148.1 (54th percentile nationally)
Seniors average: 153.2 (75th percentile nationally)
Juniors average: 140.0 (22nd percentile nationally)
9 students (5 seniors, 4 juniors) took the test
Spring 2000 Results
Department average: 147 (48th percentile nationally)
3 students (all juniors) took the test