Multimedia tests and geographical education: the 2008 International Geography Olympiad

Although there is a widespread interest in testing in geography, very few empirical studies exist of internationally validated testing models. Arguably the best international geography test in secondary education is found in the International Geography Olympiad, and this test is the focus of this paper. Apart from a written response test and fieldwork assignments, the International Geography Olympiad includes a multimedia test. This paper analyzes the results of the multimedia test of the 2008 International Geography Olympiad. Although the validity of the test is good, the performance of students on individual questions is open to a variety of interpretations. Tests such as the multimedia test can be used to assess the geographical literacy of students in the upper levels of secondary education, and this point is extended in the final section of the paper that promotes international benchmarking and improvements to the testing protocol. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.