Using multiple versions of an assessment has the potential to introduce item environment effects. These types of effects result in version dependent item characteristics (i.e., difficulty and discrimination). Methods to detect such effects and resulting implications are important for all levels of assessment where multiple forms of an assessment…

The overall aim was to examine effects of differences in group ability and features of the anchor test form on equating bias and the standard error of equating (SEE) using both real and simulated data. Chained kernel equating, Postratification kernel equating, and Circle-arc equating were studied. A college admissions test with four different…

Background: The sudden growth in online instruction due to COVID-19 restrictions has given renewed urgency to questions about remote learning that have remained unresolved. Web-based assessment software provides instructors an array of options for varying testing parameters, but the pedagogical impacts of some of these variations has yet to be…

This study aimed to reveal the differences in individuals' abilities, their standard errors, and the psychometric properties of the test according to the two methods of applying the test (electronic and paper). The descriptive approach was used to achieve the study's objectives. The study sample consisted of 74 male and female students at the…

Different variants of the selected-response (SR) item type have been developed for various reasons (i.e., simulating realistic situations, examining critical-thinking and/or problem-solving skills). Generally, the variants of SR item format are more complex than the traditional multiple-choice (MC) items, which may be more challenging to test…

Students' perception and learning practices about online timed take-home examinations and the factors affecting students' learning practices in the presence of COVID-19 have largely been unexplored. Nine students of arts, business and science sub-degree programmes participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were…

Background: This study examines the effect of test anxiety on the academic performance of postgraduate female students, focusing on their perceptions and experiences in open-book exams (OBE) and closed-book exams (CBE). Method: A qualitative case study design was employed using the Thinking Aloud Protocol (TAP) to collect data from five Saudi…

This qualitative study looks at multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in examinations and their effectiveness in testing higher-order cognition. While there are claims that MCQs can do this, we consider many assertions problematic because of the difficulty in interpreting what higher-order cognition consists of and whether or not assessment tasks…

Methods of assessment in anatomy vary across medical schools in the United Kingdom (UK) and beyond; common methods include written, spotter, and oral assessment. However, there is limited research evaluating these methods in regards to student performance and perception. The National Undergraduate Neuroanatomy Competition (NUNC) is held annually…

This research examined the Chinese National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) in mathematics before and after the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, specifically covering the periods 1952-1965 and 1977-1984. The central focus was on the organization, structure, and content of the examinations, as well as their influence on and interaction…

Purpose: Researchers discovered that when students were given the opportunity to change their answers, a majority changed their responses from incorrect to correct, and this change often increased the overall test results. What prompts students to modify their answers? This study aims to examine the modification of scientific reasoning test, with…

Research-based multiple-choice questions implemented in class with peer instruction have been shown to be an effective tool for improving students' engagement and learning outcomes. Moreover, multiple-choice questions that are carefully sequenced to build on each other can be particularly helpful for students to develop a systematic understanding…

A common approach to increase test security in higher educational high-stakes testing is the use of different test forms with identical items but different item orders. The effects of such varied item orders are relatively well studied, but findings have generally been mixed. When multiple test forms with different item orders are used, we argue…

Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) are commonly used on histology examinations. There are many guidelines for how to properly write MCQ and many of them recommend avoiding negatively worded stems. The current study aims to investigate differences between positively and negatively worded stems in a medical histology course by comparing the item…

Different versions of multiple-choice exams were administered to an undergraduate class in human physiology as part of normal testing in the classroom. The goal was to evaluate whether the number of options (possible answers) per question influenced the effectiveness of this assessment. Three exams (each with three versions) were given to each of…