Computer-Based Test Designs

Among the decisions to be made in implementing a computer-based test, the choice of test design is one of the most important. A test design is the manner by which individual items are selected for presentation to examinees during administration. The importance of evaluating test design options is critical because it not only concerns test administration but also basic activities in the test development process and the quality and precision of scores to be obtained for a specified testing purpose. Essentially, conceptualizing the test design options for computerized testing first hinges on the property of being adaptive or not, and then there are varied approaches within each of those two groupings. The purpose of this entry is to provide an overview of selected test designs, adaptive and otherwise, while highlighting certain measurement advantages and concerns associated with each. Keywords: computerized-adaptive testing; computer-based testing; computerized fixed tests; multistage testing; test designs