@article{a0fa3318059c499c953bb98ad32e34bc,
title = "Improving mathematics diagnostic tests using item analysis",
abstract = "Many universities use diagnostic tests to assess incoming students{\textquoteright} preparedness for mathematics courses. Diagnostic test results can help students to identify topics where they need more practice, and give lecturers a summary of strengths and weak- nesses in their class. We demonstrate a process that can be used to make improve- ments to a mathematics diagnostic test, so that it provides better information about students{\textquoteright} abilities. To identify questions that could be improved, our process uses item response theory to analyse student data. We provide an accessible introduction to the key ideas of item response theory, and demonstrate applying the process to make improvements to diagnostic tests at two universities. Our method provides a model for others wishing to make improvements to mathematics diagnostic tests.",
author = "Meike Akveld and George Kinnear",
note = "Funding Information: This project was supported with funding from the Principal's Teaching Award Scheme at the University of Edinburgh and from the Swiss-European Staff Mobility Programme at ETH Zurich. Thanks are due to the other project team members in Edinburgh: Tereza Burgetova, Joanne Ruth Imanuel and Chito Wong (who carried out the initial version of the statistical analysis); Chris Sangwin and Toby Bailey (who contributed to the analysis and design of replacement items). Mine {\c C}etinkaya-Rundel provided valuable help with the R code. We also thank colleagues at ETH Zurich for their contributions: Heinz Rasched (who carried out initial statistical analysis of the s21t) and Alexander Caspar (who contributed to the analysis and design of replacement items). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",
year = "2023",
month = jan,
day = "30",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2023.2167132",
language = "English",
journal = "International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology",
issn = "0020-739X",
publisher = "Taylor & Francis",
}