Comparing Assessments Within Junior Geography Textbooks Used in Mainland China

The 2001 Geography Standards for Junior Secondary Schools are the first national standards for geographic education since the founding of Communist China. The standards heralded several new ideas for geographic education, and textbook assessments are one important way for understanding their impact. This study examines the changes in assessments by comparing assessments in older geo- graphy textbooks with new geography textbooks written in accordance with the new standards. The assessments were investigated in terms of their taxonomy, type, design, and general qualities.