a) item writer should have recent experience teaching
students similar to those taking the test :
- it will provide insights into what the students find easy and difficult
- it will also help to know the students’ interests.
- it will help in knowing the students’ social background.
- eg : if the test is for the Science subject for SPM level, a person with experience of teaching science in SPM level is likely to produce a better test than somebody without the experience.
- But, having the experience does not guarantee either the insights in order to write good tasks or the creativity and imagination needed to write good items
b) a good item writer should be having creativity,
sensitivity and imagination
- All of these are the qualities that are difficult to define and difficult to identify in good item writers, but obviously missing in poor item writers
c) Some tests are written by professional item writers
(either full time for an institution or a freelance test writer)
- professional writers should ideally combine the experience and qualifications of relevant teacher with the qualities of perceptive item writer
- Advantage of employing a professional writer : The person is most likely to be able to reproduce item from one testing occasion to the next.
- Disadvantage of employing a professional writer : Less sensitive to the audience being tested and also to the changes and to the implementation of the curriculum.
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