The template-based automated item-generation (TAIG) approach that involves template creation, item generation, item selection, field-testing, and evaluation has more steps than the traditional item development method. Consequentially, there is more margin for error in this process, and any template errors can be cascaded to the generated items.…

This article presents a step-by-step guide to using R and SPSS to bootstrap exam questions. Bootstrapping, a versatile nonparametric analytical technique, can help to improve the psychometric qualities of exam questions in the process of quality assurance. Bootstrapping is particularly useful in disciplines such as medical education, where student…

Multiple-choice items are universally used in formal education. Since they should assess learning, not test-wiseness or guesswork, they must be constructed following the highest possible standards. Hundreds of item-writing guides have provided guidelines to help test developers adopt appropriate strategies to define the distribution and sequence…

In "Test-Specific Thinking," the authors provide recommended practices, methods, and means for educators to implement structural schemas into teaching, helping students better prepare for tests and formulate stronger responses to certain question frames. Armed with a better understanding of how tests are designed, teachers will increase…

When designing or modifying a test, an important challenge is controlling its speededness. To achieve this, van der Linden (2011a, 2011b) proposed using a lognormal response time model, more specifically the two-parameter lognormal model, and automated test assembly (ATA) via mixed integer linear programming. However, this approach has a severe…

A recurring question regarding Likert items is whether the discrete steps that this response format allows represent constant increments along the underlying continuum. This question appears unsolvable because Likert responses carry no direct information to this effect. Yet, any item administered in Likert format can identically be administered…

Question generation (QG) task plays a crucial role in adaptive learning. While significant QG performance advancements are reported, the existing QG studies are still far from practical usage. One point that needs strengthening is to consider the generation of question group, which remains untouched. For forming a question group, intrafactors…

Multidimensional achievement tests are recently gaining more importance in educational and psychological measurements. For example, multidimensional diagnostic tests can help students to determine which particular domain of knowledge they need to improve for better performance. To estimate the characteristics of candidate items (calibration) for…

Combining methods from earlier content validity and more contemporary content alignment studies may allow a more complete evaluation of the meaning of test scores than if either set of methods is used on its own. This article distinguishes item relevance indices in the content validity literature from test representativeness indices in the…

Previous research on grid questions has mostly focused on their comparability with the item-by-item method and the use of shading to help respondents navigate through a grid. This study extends prior work by examining whether lexical similarity among grid items affects how respondents answer the questions in an experiment where we manipulated…

The number of complaints university lecturers make about a lack of knowledge, especially first-year students' procedural knowledge, has increased recently. Due to missing adequate empirical evidence, a survey of procedural knowledge among students of Austrian high schools in their final year was conducted. For this purpose, test items for…

Stress is a complex construct that is related to resilience and general health starting in childhood. Despite its importance for student health and well-being, there are few measures of stress designed for school-based applications. In this study, we developed and initially validated a Stress Indicators Scale using five samples of teachers,…

Today's language models can produce syntactically accurate and semantically coherent texts. This capability presents new opportunities for generating content for language assessments, which have traditionally required intensive expert resources. However, these models are also known to generate biased texts, leading to representational harms.…

Empowerment is a concept that has become increasingly used over recent years. However, little research has been undertaken into how empowerment can be evaluated, particularly in the case of young people. The aim of this article is to present an inventory of dimensions and indicators of youth empowerment. The article describes the various phases in…

"A Practical Guide to Language Assessment" helps educators at every level redefine their approach to language assessment. Grounded in extensive research and aligned with the latest advances in language education, this comprehensive guide introduces foundational concepts and explores key principles in test development and item writing.…