Seventh-grade students were tested to uncover arithmetic errors. Answers and intermediate steps were analyzed and models to represent students' behavior were developed. Certain errors were common across students. Others were tied to the format of the test item. Some superficial understandings of mathematical concepts were exposed. (Author/DC)

Some software packages currently available for item writing and item banking are reviewed. Eleven test-generation and three item-banking packages are listed. Users trained in item response theory can find a great deal of power in a desk-top system. (SLD)

A course where students were required to choose projects and provide studies of the feasibility, consumer need, and process design is discussed. Other projects such as advertising campaigns used to encourage student creativity are discussed. The need to keep second semester seniors interested is stressed. (MVL)

Describes an objective test used as the comprehensive examination in a graduate library school and discusses its advantages over essay tests. The topics covered include test construction, the use of item analysis for scoring and test revision, and student reactions to the objective test. (1 reference) (CLB)

Effects of instructional coverage variations on item characteristic functions were examined, using eighth-grade data from the Second International Mathematics Study (1985). Although some differences in item response curves were large, better performance was not necessarily related to greater learning opportunity. Item curve response differences…

The reliability and validity of a cloze procedure used as an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) test in China were improved by applying traditional item analysis and selection techniques. The 'best' test items were chosen on the basis of item facility and discrimination indices, and were administered as a 'tailored cloze.' 29 references listed.…

The psychometric characteristics of constructed response items referring to choice and nonchoice passages administered to approximately 150,000 students in grades 3, 5, and 8 were studied through item response theory methodology. Results indicated no consistent differences in the difficulty and discrimination of items referring to the two types of…

Literature related to the multiple true-false (MTF) item format is reviewed. Each answer cluster of a MTF item may have several true items and the correctness of each is judged independently. MTF tests appear efficient and reliable, although they are a bit harder than multiple choice items for examinees. (SLD)

The reliabilities of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-choice tests were compared through an incremental-option model on a test taken by 154 high school seniors. Creating the test forms incrementally more closely approximates actual test construction. The nonsignificant differences among the option choices support the three-option item. (SLD)

It is proposed that the multiple-choice test can be useful in helping language students understand the meaning of text better without overwhelming them. Techniques for drafting effective questions are discussed, and a sample list of questions is presented. (MSE)

Thirty-six testwise and 41 test-naive high school seniors in British Columbia (Canada) were tested to determine their abilities to apply selected test wiseness principles according to a proposed model of test-taking behavior. To apply the testwiseness strategy, students first needed knowledge of the content tested and test item content. (SLD)

A study investigated the degree to which enhancement of instruction in blood transfusion medicine (TM) in the medical school curriculum is reflected in performance on 1989-90 National Board of Medical Examiners examinations in comparison with 1984-85. Students performed better on TM-related items than on items generally in 1989-90, suggesting more…

This study explored the relationship between traditional item difficulty and cognitive complexity as measured by response time. Rural students (n=43) responded to computer-based tests of the Individualized Study by Technology General Mathematics Course developed by Alaska's Department of Education. Results indicated that mean response times were…

A two-stage procedure for estimating item bias was examined with six indices of item bias and the Mantel-Haenszel statistic. Results suggest that the two-stage procedure is not very useful when the number of biased items is small and bias magnitude is weak. (SLD)

Effects of the following variables on performance of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) procedures for the partial credit model (PCM) were studied: (1) stopping rule for terminating CAT; (2) item pool size; and (3) distribution of item difficulties. Implications of findings for CAT systems based on the PCM are discussed. (SLD)