Effect Of Continuous Assessment Tests On Overall Student Performance In The Case Of The Spanish National Distance Education University (UNED)

This study aims to analyze the effect of the use of different types of continuous assessment tests on students participation, performance and final grades. To this end, it examines the case of a second-year course from the degree program in Business Administration and Management offered by the Faculty of Economics at the Universidad Nacional de Educaci a Distancia (National Distance Education University, UNED) in Spain during the first two academic years it was available (2011/12 and 2012/13). This period offered two distinct scenarios, with a total of 1,450 students participating the first year and 1,809 in the second, due to the use of two online continuous assessment tests with different scoring systems. The goal was to analyze the influence of each of the continuous assessment systems used on student participation in both the continuous assessment test itself and the final exam, as well as on the grades earned on these tests, and students overall performance in the course. As a result of this research, conclusions were reached regarding the educational nature of these tests and their suitability as a true tool for monitoring and assessment at a distance university