Test-item writing efforts typically results in item pools with an undesirable correlational structure between the content attributes of the items and their statistical information. If such pools are used in computerized adaptive testing (CAT), the algorithm may be forced to select items with less than optimal information, that violate the content…

This study was designed to address two frequent criticisms of the SAT essay--that essay length is the best predictor of scores, and that there is an advantage in using more "sophisticated" examples as opposed to personal experience. The study was based on 2,820 essays from the first three administrations of the new SAT. Each essay was…

A project was undertaken in the San Diego Community College District to develop a consistent districtwide placement testing program using the same test instruments and uniform cut-off scores for placement in English and mathematics courses. As part of the project, a study was conducted to correlate English placement test scores and grades for all…

A study was conducted in the San Diego Community College District to evaluate English placement test data for a correlation between test scores and grades in English courses districtwide and to evaluate placement test cutoff scores. Following from Phase I of the project which involved a pilot study conducted at Mesa College between fall 1982 and…

A necessary prerequisite to the operational use of item response theory (IRT) in any testing program is the investigation of the feasibility of such an approach. This report presents the results of such research for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Despite the fact that GMAT data appear to violate a basic assumption of the…