Achievement Test - Evaluation Assignment

CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACHIEVEMENT TEST

Any test designed to assess the achievement in any subject with regard to a set of predetermined objectives Major steps involved in the construction of achievement test

·         Planning of test

·         Preparation of a design for the test

·         Preparation of the blue print

·         Writing of items

·         Preparation of question-wise analysis

1. Planning of test

§         Objective of the Test

§         Determine the maximum time and maximum marks

2. Preparation of a design for the test

Important factors to be considered in design for the test are:

§         Weightage to objectives

§         Weightage to content

§         Weightage to form of questions

§         Weightage to difficulty level.

Weightage to objectives

Sl.No	Objectives	Marks	Percentage
1	Knowledge	6	24
2	Understanding	8	32
3	Application	11	44
Total		25	100

Weightage to content

Sl.No	Content	Marks	Percentage
1	Sub topic - 1	10	40
2	Sub topic - 2	15	60
Total		25	100

Weightage to form of questions

Sl.No	Form of questions	No. of Questions	Marks	Percentage
1	Objective type	13	13	52
2	Short answer type	1	2	8
3	Essay type	1	10	40
Total		15	25	100

Weightage to difficulty level

Sl.No	Form of questions	Marks	Percentage
1	Easy	5	20
2	Average	15	60
3	Difficult	5	20
Total		25	100

3. Preparation of the blue print

Blue print is a three-dimensional chart giving the placement of the objectives, content and form of questions.

Objectives Form of Question Content	Knowledge			Understanding			Application			Grand Total
	O	SA	E	O	SA	E	O	SE	E
Sub Topic- 1	1(3)			1(6)			1(1)			10
Sub Topic – 2	1(3)				2(1)				10 (1)	15
Total Marks	6	0	0	5	3	0	2		10	25
Grand Total	6			8			11

Note: O – Objective Type, SA – Short Answer Type, E – Essay Type

The number outside the bracket indicates the marks and those inside indicates the number of questions.

4. Writing of items

• The paper setter writes items according to the blue print.
• The difficulty level has to be considered while writing the items.
• It should also be checked whether all the questions included can be answered within the time allotted.
• It is advisable to arrange the questions in the order of their difficulty level.

5. Preparation of Question-wise Analysis

Q.No	Content	Objectives	Form of Questions	Difficulty Level	Marks	Estimated Time  ( In Mts.)
1	Sub topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective Type	Easy	1	1
2	Sub Topic – 1	Understanding	Objective Type	Average	1	1
3	Sub Topic – 2	Application	Objective Type	Difficult	1	1
4	Sub Topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective Type	Easy	1	1
5	Sub Topic – 2	Understanding	Objective type	Average	1	1
6	Sub topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective Type	Easy	1	1
7	Sub topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective type	Average	1	1
8	Sub topic – 1	Understanding	Objective type	Easy	1	1
9	Sub topic – 1	Understanding	Objective type	Difficult	1	1
10	Sub topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective type	Average	1	1
11	Sub topic – 1	Understanding	Objective type	Easy	1	1
12	Sub topic – 1	Knowledge	Objective type	Average	1	1
13	Sub Topic – 2	Understanding	Objective type	Difficult	1	1
14	Subtopic – 2	Understanding	Short answer	Difficult	2	5
15	Subtopic – 2	Application	Essay	Average	10	15

 TYPE OF TEST ITEMS

§         Objective type

§         Short answer type

§         Essay Type

OBJECTIVE TYPE

§         An objective type of test item is one which the response will be objective.

§         Objective type test item broadly classified into two:

§         Supply type ( Recall Type)

§         The respondent has to supply the responses.

§         Selection type ( Recognition Type)

§         The respondent has to select the responses from among the given responses. 

Objective Type – 4 Types

§         True – False Items (Alternate Response Type

§         Multiple Choice Items

§         Matching Type Items

§         Completion Type Test Items

Advantages of Objective Type Items

§         A large amount of study material can be tested in a very short period time

§         Economy of time.

§         Objectivity of scoring. 

§         No bluffing

§         It reduces the subjective element of the examiner to the minimum.

§         If carefully planned, it can measure the higher mental process of understanding, application, analysis, prediction and interpretation.

Limitations of Objective type items

§         Difficulty in preparing good items.

§         Problem of guessing.

§         Problem of cheating.

§         Inefficiency in testing complicated skills

§         High printing cost.

§         Emphasis on testing superficial knowledge.

Short answer type

§         A question requiring three value points at most may be defined as a short answer question.

§         Value points diminish the subjectivity.

§         Help in ensuring wide coverage of content.

Advantages of Short answer Type Items

§         Large portion of the content can be covered in a test.

§         No opportunity for guessing.

§         Easy to construct, because it measures a relatively simple outcomes.

§         It can be made quit objective by carefully fixing the value points.

§         Useful in evaluating the ability to interpret diagrams, charts, graphs, etc.

§         If carefully prepared, deep level objectives understanding, application and problem solving skill can be evaluated.

Limitations of Short answer Type Items

§         It is more subjective than the objective type of items.

§         It may encourage student to memories fact and develop poor study habits.

§         Mechanical scoring is not possible

Essay type

§         It is free response test item.

§         Help in ensuring a wide coverage of content and variety of objectives.

§         Help in evaluating complex skills.

Advantages Essay Type Items

§         Easy to prepare.

§         Useful in measuring certain abilities and skills.

§         Permit the examinee to write down comprehensively what he knows about something.

§         Promote originality and creative thinking.

§         Possibility of guess work can be eliminated.

§         Reduce chance on the spot copying.

§         Low printing cost.

Limitations of Essay Type Items

§         Minimum validity.

§         Lack of reliability.

§         No objectivity.

§         Rote memory is encouraged.

§         It is a time consuming test item.