The importance of controlling item behaviour and scoring methodology for testing higher level learning

When testing higher level learning it is important to ensure that e-assessment is as reliable and as rigorous as possible and that guessfactors are reduced to the minimum in order to be confident that the final score is a true reflection of the candidate’s ability. A number of assessment systems, such as those provided by VLEs, provide only basic controls on question behaviour and scoring together with relatively simple ‘click & pick’ item types. For more advanced e-assessment it is necessary to employ a dedicated e-assessment system that allows fine control of how each item is delivered and flexible scoring methodologies that allow for the award of partial credit for partially correct answers and stepwise accreditation of the route to the answer even though the final answer may not be correct.