Evolution of a Test Item∗

∗Mary Spaan retired from the University of Michigan English Language Institute in 2006.

Abstract

This article follows the development of test items (see Language Assessment Quarterly, Volume 3 Issue 1, pp. 71–79 for the article “Test and Item Specifications Development”), beginning with a review of test and item specifications, then proceeding to writing and editing of items, pretesting and analysis, and finally selection of an item for a live test. The article focuses on selected response types of items, with some attention given to short response types.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author would like to acknowledge the following source for Figure 4: FUNDAMENTALS OF ITEM RESPONSE THEORY (PAPER) by Hambleton, Swaminathan, Rogers. Copyright 2007 by Sage Publications Inc. Books. Reproduced with permission of Sage Publications Inc. Books in the format Journal via Copyright Clearance Center.

Notes

∗Mary Spaan retired from the University of Michigan English Language Institute in 2006.