Evaluating Scale Fit for Broad-Range Admissions Tests: An Illustration Using GRE Data GRE

Author(s):

Dorans, Neil J.; Yu, Lei; Guo, Fanmin

Publication Year:

2006

Report Number:

RM-06-04

Source:

ETS Research Memorandum

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

12

Subject/Key Words:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Test Scores, Admissions, Score Scale

Abstract

Scores are the most visible and widely used products of a testing program. The choice of score scale has implications for test specifications, equating, and test reliability and validity, as well as for test interpretation. A score scale should be viewed as infrastructure that is likely to require repair. How do we know that a score scale is serving its purpose properly? In this report, we use basic graphical displays to evaluate the usefulness of score scales. Two simple ways of summarizing scale fit have been introduced. Both measures indicate how well the scales can support the score distributions. For illustrative purposes, we use data from the GRE General Test.

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