Methodology for Creating of Objective and Balanced Linear Tests Based on the Item Response Theory

Report published in the Proceedings of the National Conference on "Education and Research in the Information Society", Plovdiv, May, 2014

The estimation of the cognitive ability of an individual is an important part of the educational process. The main goal of every test theory is to create tests that are objective along the entire range of abilities of the tested audience. Or in other words – the final ability estimate of every individual needs to reflect his/her knowledge, regardless of the amount of knowledge he/she possesses. Two theories are widespread nowadays – the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and the Item Response Theory (IRT). This paper reviews some of the disadvantages of CTT for creation of objective and balanced tests and demonstrates how these disadvantages can be overcome when the more modern IRT is applied.

Association for the Development of the Information Society, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski"