The present book, Cases of Assessment in Mathematics Education, is one
of two studies resulting from an ICMI Study Conference on Assessment in
Mathematics Education and Its Effects. The book which is published in
the series of ICMI Studies under the general editorship of the President
and Secretary of ICMI is closely related to another study resulting from
the same conference: Investigations into Assessment in Mathematics
Education (Niss, 1992). The two books, although originating from the
same sources and having the same editor, emphasize different aspects of
assessment in mathematics education and can be read independently of one
another. While the present book is devoted to presenting and discussing
cases of assessment that are actually implemented, the other study
attempts to critically analyze general and principal aspects of
assessment. Naturally, the content of either book is enriched by the
materials and perspectives provided by the other one. In order to put
this book and its background into context, the nature and scope of the
ICMI studies are outlined briefly below.