Appraisal of in-service trainee teachers' competency on applications of principles of test items writing

Abstract

Most procedures used to obtain information about student learning are subsumed under assessment. This study appraised in-service trainee teachers' competency on applications of principles of test items writing. One Study Centre was purposively drawn from the National Teachers' Institute for the study. A sample of 33 students was further purposively drawn from the population. The instrument designed to assess teachers' competency in applications of principles of test items writing competency (Clay, 2001) was adopted for data collection. Data was analysed with use of descriptive statistics, correlation and analysis of variance. The result showed participants' areas of weakness and strength in the applications of principles of test item writing competency. Observed general lack of competency in their applications of principles of test items writing skills point to capacity building needs in learning outcomes assessment particularly in the use of such principles in items writing to enhance their professional skills as teachers.