DRC DRC Assessment Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of backward design in DRC assessment development?
- To start with desired outcomes and work backward to content (Correct answer)
- To design tests after instruction is complete
- To reverse the order of test items
- To use prior test versions as templates
Correct answer: To start with desired outcomes and work backward to content
Backward design begins with defining learning outcomes and then creates assessments that measure those outcomes.
Question 2: Which assessment type does DRC primarily develop for K-12 state programs?
- Portfolio assessments
- Standardized summative assessments (Correct answer)
- Informal classroom assessments
- Teacher-created formative assessments
Correct answer: Standardized summative assessments
DRC specializes in developing standardized summative assessments used by state K-12 programs to measure student achievement.
Question 3: In DRC assessment design, what does 'construct validity' refer to?
- The physical construction of test booklets
- Whether the test measures the intended skill or knowledge area (Correct answer)
- The number of items on the test
- The format of answer choices
Correct answer: Whether the test measures the intended skill or knowledge area
Construct validity ensures that a test actually measures the theoretical construct or skill it is intended to assess.
Question 4: What is a 'blueprint' in the context of DRC assessment design?
- A diagram of the testing facility layout
- A document specifying content coverage, item types, and point distribution (Correct answer)
- A sample of student answer sheets
- A scoring rubric for written responses
Correct answer: A document specifying content coverage, item types, and point distribution
A test blueprint outlines the content standards, item types, and number of points allocated to each area of the assessment.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'criterion-referenced' assessment, which DRC often produces?
- Comparing students to each other using a bell curve
- Measuring student performance against a fixed set of standards (Correct answer)
- Ranking students from highest to lowest scores
- Determining which students are above average
Correct answer: Measuring student performance against a fixed set of standards
Criterion-referenced assessments measure whether students have mastered specific standards, not how they compare to peers.
Question 6: What role does an 'alignment study' play in DRC test development?
- It aligns student desks for standardized testing
- It verifies that test items match the intended academic standards (Correct answer)
- It schedules test administration windows
- It aligns scoring rubrics across graders
Correct answer: It verifies that test items match the intended academic standards
An alignment study evaluates the degree to which test items correspond to the academic standards they are designed to measure.
DRC DRC Assessment Design 1
What is the primary purpose of backward design in DRC assessment development?