Test equating requires collecting data to link the scores from different forms of a test. Problems arise when equating samples are not equivalent and the test forms to be linked share no common items by which to measure or adjust for the group nonequivalence. Using data from five operational test forms, we created five pairs of research forms for…

This study evaluated the impact of subgroup weighting for equating through a common-item anchor. We used data from a single test form to create two research forms for which the equating relationship was known. The results showed that equating was most accurate when the new form and reference form samples were weighted to be similar to the target…

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, at-home testing has become a popular delivery mode in many testing programs. When programs offer at-home testing to expand their service, the score comparability between test takers testing remotely and those testing in a test center is critical. This article summarizes statistical procedures that could be…

In this investigation, we used real data to assess potential differential effects associated with taking a test in a test center (TC) versus testing at home using remote proctoring (RP). We used a pseudo-equivalent groups (PEG) approach to examine group equivalence at the item level and the total score level. If our assumption holds that the PEG…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of linking test scores by using test takers' background data to form pseudo-equivalent groups (PEG) of test takers. Using 4 operational test forms that each included 100 items and were taken by more than 30,000 test takers, we created 2 half-length research forms that had either 20…

In this study, we examined the potential impact of item misfit on the reported scores of an admission test from the subpopulation invariance perspective. The target population of the test consisted of 3 major subgroups with different geographic regions. We used the logistic regression function to estimate item parameters of the operational items…

The major purpose of this study is to assess the conditions under which single scoring for constructed-response (CR) items is as effective as double scoring in the licensure testing context. We used both empirical datasets of five mixed-format licensure tests collected in actual operational settings and simulated datasets that allowed for the…

This study examined the appropriateness of the anchor composition in a mixed-format test, which includes both multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items, using subpopulation invariance indices. Linking functions were derived in the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design using two types of anchor sets: (a) MC only and (b)…

A series of resampling studies investigated the accuracy of equating by four different methods in a random groups equating design with samples of 400, 200, 100, and 50 test takers taking each form. Six pairs of forms were constructed. Each pair was constructed by assigning items from an existing test taken by 9,000 or more test takers. The…

Score equating based on small samples of examinees is often inaccurate for the examinee populations. We conducted a series of resampling studies to investigate the accuracy of five methods of equating in a common-item design. The methods were chained equipercentile equating of smoothed distributions, chained linear equating, chained mean equating,…

This study examines the use of subpopulation invariance indices to evaluate the appropriateness of using a multiple-choice (MC) item anchor in mixed-format tests, which include both MC and constructed-response (CR) items. Linking functions were derived in the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design using an MC-only anchor set for 4…

We examined the appropriateness of the anchor composition in a mixed-format test, which includes both multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items, using subpopulation invariance indices. We derived linking functions in the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design using two types of anchor sets: (a) MC only and (b) a mix of…

A series of resampling studies was conducted to compare the accuracy of equating in a common item design using four different methods: chained equipercentile equating of smoothed distributions, chained linear equating, chained mean equating, and the circle-arc method. Four operational test forms, each containing more than 100 items, were used for…

This study examined variations of the nonequivalent-groups equating design for mixed-format tests--tests containing both multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items--to determine which design was most effective in producing equivalent scores across the two tests to be equated. Four linking designs were examined: (a) an anchor with…

In this study we examined variations of the nonequivalent groups equating design for tests containing both multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items to determine which design was most effective in producing equivalent scores across the two tests to be equated. Using data from a large-scale exam, this study investigated the use of…