Assessing active citizenship: An international perspective

Abstract

This article analysed four education systems across five countries in terms of their approach to the assessment of 'active' citizenship. The four countries chosen were: England and Wales, Australia, Singapore and the USA (specifically Washington and Florida). 'Active' citizenship was defined as an amalgamation of knowledge (political literacy) and action (civic duty). As such, an assessment which tests both these constructs would be needed to provide a valid measure of active citizenship. For each education system, an overview of the placement of citizenship education is provided, alongside a critical analysis of the assessment of 'active' citizenship from the perspective of achieving test validity.