This publication contains 317 multiple-choice chemistry test items related to topics covered in the Victorian (Australia) Year 12 chemistry course. It allows teachers access to a range of items suitable for diagnostic and achievement purposes, supplementing the ACER Chemistry Test Item Collection--Year 12 (CHEMTIC). The topics covered are: organic…

Tailored testing increases the efficiency of tests by individually selecting for each person a set of items from an item pool so that the difficulty of the items selected will be such as to maximize the information provided by the score. The tailored testing procedure designed by Cliff orders persons and items on a common ordinal scale and…

A method is described which used the Rasch model for combining information across administrations of the same items in different tests to different student populations. The method was used in conjunction with the composite point biserial and mean square fit to provide more valid information about item quality. Over 700 items were administered to…

The woodworking collection is composed of 55 objectives and related evaluation items for use in grades 7 through 12. Each sample contains the objective, test items, and criteria for judging the adequacy of the response. Woodworking categories being measured include sharpening, adjusting, using and caring for tools; reading a working drawing; stock…

A conventional test and two forms of a stradaptive test were administered to thousands of simulated subjects by minicomputer. Characteristics of the three tests using several scoring techniques were investigated while varying the discriminating power of the items, the lengths of the tests, and the availability of prior information about the…

This publication presents an organized collection of biology questions, designed for use in evaluation at the secondary level in Tasmania. Each item has been tried for quality and is accompanied by its difficulty percentage as well as by its content area and the mental processes required to answer it. The content areas include: Diversity,…

The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the current changes in test development that are taking place because of the availability and capabilities of computers, especially microcomputers. Item banking and test assembly are discussed, and a comprehensive testing system is described. (BW)

Educational assessments that exploit advances in technology and cognitive psychology can produce observations and pose student models that outstrip familiar test-theoretic models and analytic methods. Bayesian inference networks (BINs), which include familiar models and techniques as special cases, can be used to manage belief about students'…

This paper describes an assessment and evaluation effort occurring in the context of a middle school science curriculum development effort known as Learning by Design (LBD). The LBD approach builds on a body of cognitive science and professional education research that emphasizes learning from problem-solving experience. The assessment and…

This study (1) provided evidence concerning the construct validity of scales based on the clusters found in a revised, professional-level form of the California Occupational Preference System Interest Inventory and (2) examined the degree of internal consistency of the 16 newly devised subscales. (Author/PN)

A new method was developed to assist in the selection of a test length by utilizing computer simulation procedures and item response theory. A demonstration of the method presents results which address the influences of item pool heterogeneity matched to the objectives of interest and the method of item selection. (Author/PN)

Discusses use of item banks in preparing local tests, using as an example the construction of a college mathematics placement test. Compares recommended placements with course results at the end of the quarter. Students who placed themselves above recommendation did better than expected, perhaps because of strong self-selection factors. (PAS)

The validity of an examination of knowledge in the medical sciences was assessed. Scores in clinical medicine categories and total score of the Quarterly Profile Examination were correlated with corresponding scores on the Part II examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners for three different examination dates. (Author/CTM)

Under certain conditions it may be possible to determine the difficulty of previously untested test items. Although no recipe can be provided, reflections on this topic are presented, drawing on concepts of item banking. A functional constructive method is suggested as having the most potential. (SLD)

Three major pragmatic issues in computerized testing are addressed: (1) encouraging teacher use; (2) reporting of information; and (3) test construction. Reference is made to four related articles. Additional areas for research include reporting of test information; item bank standards; validity; and rules for stopping in computerized testing.…