DRC DRC Item Development 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'selected-response item' (SRI) on a DRC assessment?
- An item chosen by the student to answer from a list of optional questions
- A multiple-choice or other fixed-response item where students choose from given options (Correct answer)
- An item developed by teachers and selected for the test
- An open-ended item where students select their own response format
Correct answer: A multiple-choice or other fixed-response item where students choose from given options
Selected-response items present students with a fixed set of answer options to choose from, including multiple choice, multi-select, and matching formats.
Question 2: What is a 'constructed-response item' (CRI) in DRC assessment design?
- An item built by a construction company for facility signage
- An item requiring students to produce a written, drawn, or otherwise generated response (Correct answer)
- An item using graphics or diagrams as answer choices
- An item that is constructed during the testing session by the proctor
Correct answer: An item requiring students to produce a written, drawn, or otherwise generated response
Constructed-response items require students to generate their own responses—such as written explanations, calculations, or performances—rather than selecting from options.
Question 3: What is a 'technology-enhanced item' (TEI) used in DRC online testing?
- An item about technology topics such as computers and coding
- An item that uses digital interaction such as drag-and-drop, hotspot, or sorting to assess skills (Correct answer)
- An item scored by DRC's automated technology
- An item delivered with background music or visual effects
Correct answer: An item that uses digital interaction such as drag-and-drop, hotspot, or sorting to assess skills
Technology-enhanced items leverage digital capabilities to have students interact with content in ways that paper tests cannot replicate, such as ordering steps or clicking on map locations.
Question 4: What is the purpose of 'item stems' in a DRC multiple-choice item?
- The botanical diagram included in science items
- The question or problem that the student must respond to (Correct answer)
- The list of answer choices provided to the student
- The scoring rubric used to evaluate responses
Correct answer: The question or problem that the student must respond to
The item stem is the question, problem statement, or prompt that presents what the student is being asked to do or answer, preceding the answer options.
Question 5: What are 'distractors' in the context of DRC multiple-choice items?
- Students who distract others during testing
- The incorrect answer options designed to reflect common misconceptions (Correct answer)
- Images or graphics placed near items to draw attention
- Items placed at the end of a test to reduce fatigue
Correct answer: The incorrect answer options designed to reflect common misconceptions
Distractors are the incorrect answer choices in a multiple-choice item, each crafted to appear plausible while reflecting typical student errors or misconceptions.
Question 6: What does 'item banking' mean in DRC's item development process?
- Storing test booklets in a bank vault for security
- Maintaining a large repository of reviewed, calibrated items available for future test construction (Correct answer)
- Depositing payment for item development services
- Banking unused items from previous tests without review
Correct answer: Maintaining a large repository of reviewed, calibrated items available for future test construction
An item bank is a managed repository of items that have been developed, reviewed, and statistically calibrated, available for assembly into future test forms.
DRC DRC Item Development 1
What is a 'selected-response item' (SRI) on a DRC assessment?