Scores are the most visible and widely used products of a testing program. The choice of score scale has implications for test specifications, equating, and test reliability and validity, as well as for test interpretation. At the same time, the score scale should be viewed as infrastructure likely to require repair at some point. In this report…

The types of test score interpretive information considered useful to failing examinees were studied through interviews with Educational Testing Service (ETS) staff members. Research literature on interpretive information for failing test takers was reviewed, and procedures currently used at ETS were determined. Managers of 23 testing programs…

Author replies to article TM 500 559. (MB)

There are two major aspects to the cutoff score issue in criterion-referenced (CR) measurement: whether a cutoff score is actually needed for a CR test, and the method for setting the cutoff score if one is used. There are many factors to be considered in determining a cutoff score. While cutoff scores are very often set arbitrarily (e.g., 80%),…

In this comment a recent attempt by Samuel A. Livingston to develop a theory of reliability for criterion-referenced measures is critiqued. For Livingston's rejoinder see TM 500 560. (Authors/MB)

In this paper, an attempt has been made to synthesize some of the current thinking in the area of criterion-referenced testing as well as to provide the beginning of an integration of theory and method for such testing. Since criterion-referenced testing is viewed from a decision-theoretic point of view, approaches to reliability and validity…

A comprehensive review of test practices and recommendations for setting up a district testing program that will meet informational needs. (Editor)

Six methods of scoring multiple true-false items were compared in terms of reliabilities, difficulties, and discrimination. Results suggest that, for norm-referenced score interpretations, there is insufficient evidence to support any one of the methods as superior. For criterion-referenced score interpretations, effects of scoring method must be…

A test for assessing the child's ability to identify territories and their relationship to each other--the Territorial Decentration Test--is discussed. In addition to a description of the test, the administration and scoring of the test and the assignment of score ranges and criterion levels (Territorial Stages) are described. A directions Form…

Instructional programs organized according to modern educational technology are discussed within the purposes of criterion-referenced measurements used. The problems of criterion-referenced measurements include scoring and score interpretation, item and test analysis, and mastery testing. An overview of solutions and approaches to the problems and…

The complexity of defining accurate passing scores with a minimum classification error when evaluating criterion-referenced, multiple-choice tests has been a major problem for classroom teachers. Therefore, a practical procedure in which the instructor determines the plausibility of each item option for the minimally acceptable examinee is…

The validity of the word attack skill tests of the Wisconsin Design for Reading Skill Development is studied at six grade levels by an investigation of the relationship of these to several widely known reading achievement tests. The basic notion is that reading mastery scores derived from the diagnostic tests should be positively related to the…

Research partially supported by the UCLA Center for the Study of Evaluation of Instructional Programs.

The development of a series of parallel single-topic tests for testing attainment of 14 objectives concerned with inquiry skill in biology is discussed. The series of eight two-part tests are called "Explorations in Biology" (EIB). (CK)

This resource guide was designed for teachers and administrators in Arizona school districts to assist them in preparing functional and meaningful programs of student achievement testing. The format of the guide is based on fundamental questions often posed by educators regarding norm-referenced and criterion-referenced testing. Particular…