Standard-setting Studies
Standard-setting studies identify vital test-taker knowledge and confirm the relevance of each state's test content.
Determining the study's purpose
- These studies identify the level of knowledge a test-taker should have to be considered minimally qualified for independent, beginning practice. The level of knowledge is represented by a minimum test score that test-takers need.
- The studies reconfirm the relevance (validity) of the adopting state's test content for teachers.
Choosing a study method
- Different test structures use different standard-setting approaches. ETS recommends and implements a modified Angoff method for selected-response (SR) items as well as a Benchmark method for constructed-response (CR) items.
- One or more ETS standard-setting specialists conduct and facilitate each standard-setting study. Each study produces a technical report that describes the selection and representativeness of the participants involved. The report also summarizes the standard-setting methods and results.
Conducting an appropriate standard-setting study
- When a state chooses to adopt a test, the state conducts either a state-specific standard-setting study or a multi-state standard-setting study.
- The state-specific study applies when the test is used only in that particular state or when a state is considering adopting an existing test. No other states can be considering adopting the test at that time.
- The multi-state standard-setting study applies when multiple states are considering adopting a particular test title, such as when new and regenerated tests require new passing scores.
- For both studies, ETS convenes panels of licensed practicing educators and college faculty from user states to conduct standard-setting studies, which then confirm that the knowledge and/or skills represented in the test-content specifications are important for entry-level practice. The two studies also both recommend passing scores for the state(s) to consider when setting its own passing score.
- Read more about multi-state standard-setting studies in Setting Standards on The Praxis Series® Tests: A Multi-state Approach (PDF).
Contact information
- Have any questions, or need further information? Contact your Client Relations Director at PraxisClientRelations@ets.org.
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