#test item formulation

[aymannudalf]

[xaleefhar]

IV. Assessment Tools Development

Assessment Development Cycle 

1. Planning Stage

Determine who will use the assessment results and how they will use them.

Identify the learning targets to be assessed.

Select the appropriate assessment method or methods.

Determine the sample size.

2. Development Stage

Develop or select items, exercises, tasks, and scoring procedures. 

Review and critique the overall assessment for quality before use.

3. Use Stage 

Conduct and score the assessment. 

Revise as needed for future use.

Steps in Developing Assessment Tools

1. Examine the instructional objectives of the topics previously discussed. The first step in

developing a test is to examine and go back to the instructional objectives so that you can

match with the test items to be constructed.

2.  Make a table of specification (TOS). TOS ensures that the assessment is based from the intended learning outcomes.

3.  Construct the test items. In constructing test items, it  is necessary to follow the general

guidelines for constructing test items. Kubiszyn and Borich (2007) suggested some guidelines for writing test items to help classroom teachers improve the quality of test items to write.

Begin writing items far enough or in advance so that you will have time to revise them.

Match   items   to   intended   outcomes   at   appropriate   level   of   difficulty   to   provide   valid measure of instructional objectives. Limit the question to the skill being assessed.

Be sure each item deals with an important aspect of the content area and not with trivia.

Be sure the problem posed is clear and unambiguous.

Be sure that the item is independent with all other items. The answer to one item should not be required as a condition in answering the next item. A hint to one answer should not be embedded to another item.

Be sure the item has one or best answer on which experts would agree.

Prevent   unintended   clues   to   an   answer   in   the   statement   or   question.   Grammaticalinconsistencies such as “a” or “an” give clues to the correct answer to those students who are not well prepared for the test.

Avoid replication  of  the  textbook  in writing test  items;  do  not  quote  directly from the textual materials. You are usually not interested in how well students memorize the text. Besides, taken out of context, direct quotes from the text are often ambiguous.

Avoid trick or catch questions in an achievement test. Do not waste time testing how well the students can interpret your intentions.

Try to write items that require higher-order thinking skills.

4. Assemble the test items

After constructing the test items following the different principles of constructing test item, the next step to consider is to assemble the test items. There are two steps   in   assembling   the   test:   (1)  packaging   the   test;   and   (2)  reproducing   the   test.   In

assembling the test, consider the following guidelines:

Group all test items with similar format.

Arrange test items from easy to difficult.

Space the test items for easy reading.

Keep items and option in the same page.

Place the illustrations near the description

Check the answer key.

Decide where to record the answer.

5. Check   the   assembled   test   items

Before reproducing the test, it is very important to proofread first the test items for typographical and grammatical errors and make necessary corrections if any. If possible, let others examine the test to validate its content. This can save time during the examination and avoid destruction of the concentration of the students.

6. Write directions

Check the test directions for each item format to be sure that it is clear for the students to understand. The test direction should contain the numbers of items to which they apply; how to record their answers; the basis of which they select answer; and the criteria for scoring or the scoring system.

7. Make the answer key

Be sure to check your answer key so that the correct answers follow a fairly random sequence.

8. Analyze and improve the test items

Analyzing and improving the test items should be done after checking, scoring and recording the test.