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Adult Measures of Essential Skills (AMES) 
AMES measures reading, writing, arithmetic/mathematics, information, and resources skills.
STRUCTURE OF AMES AMES bases its test questions on experiences adults are likely to encounter at home, at work, and in the community. AMES is a norm-referenced, multiple-choice test. AMES has five levels: A, B, C, D, and E. Each level has two forms to accommodate pre- and post-testing. Most of Level A is presented orally. Levels B- E can be administered individually or in groups. A locator test is provided to ensure testing at the appropriate level.
LOCATOR TEST Ames has a 20-minute test designed to help determine which level of the test to administer to a student.
AMES LEVELS Test Level Grade Range
Level A Level A tests Pre-Reading and Applied Problem Solving skills. It has 30 items and takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Level B Level B tests Reading, Communication, Computation, and Applied Problem Solving skills. It has 119 items and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Level C Level C tests Reading, Communication, Computation, and Applied Problem Solving skills. It has 123 items and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Level D Level D tests Reading, Communication, Computation, and Applied Problem Solving skills. It has 123 items and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Level E Level E tests Reading, Communication, Computation, and Applied Problem Solving Skills. It has 123 items and takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
CONTENT OF TESTS Level A Pre-Reading Test
Applied Problem Solving
Level B Reading
Communication
Computation
Applied Problem Solving
Level C Reading
Communication
Computation
Applied Problem Solving
Level D Reading
Communication
Computation
Applied Problem Solving
Level E Reading
Communication
Computation
Applied Problem Solving
TEST ADMINISTRATION AMES has a Directions for Administration booklet with specific information for administering the test. For general information on test administration refer to the Guidelines for Testing section of this book.
SCORING THE AMES AMES can be hand-scored, machine scored, or computer scored.
INTERPRETING THE AMES Score results include raw score, scaled score, grade equivalent, percentile rank, and stanines. Relative norm groups include adult basic education, vocational/technical, corrections, and community college. Information is provided for total communication, total reading, total applied problem solving, total mathematics, total battery, critical thinking, and locating and using information.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES UTILIZING INFORMATION FROM AMES The AMES Administrator’s Reference Manual: Bridging Assessment and Instruction provides record keeping forms and information about developing instructional plans for students. It also provides comprehensive information for instruction for each skill tested with Steck-Vaughn curriculum resources, both print and software for individual students or groups of students. Instructional strategies are given for clusters of skills. Information in the curriculum resources and instructional strategies is provided in three the general categories of below average, average, and above average. |