A review of the basics of determining the cutting point in academic achievement tests and the introduction of Angoff scientific method

Karshki, Hossein; Haji Abadi, ّFatemeh; Bagheri, Maryam; Ghanbari Moghadam, Akram

doi:10.22038/hmed.2021.54426.1116

A review of the basics of determining the cutting point in academic achievement tests and the introduction of Angoff scientific method

https://doi.org/10.22038/hmed.2021.54426.1116

Volume 12, Issue 4
Winter 2022

Pages 96-85

Horizon of Medical Education Development

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Hossein Karshki ¹

ّFatemeh Haji abadi ²

Maryam Bagheri ³

Akram Ghanbari Moghadam ⁴

¹ Associate Professor, School of Education & psychology, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran

² Assistant Professor , Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Instructor, Department of Medical Emergencies, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

⁴ Instructor of Nursing Department, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The cut-off point in a test is the score that divides test takers into different classes (such as rejection-acceptance). The process of determining the cut-off point is frequently used in educational tests. The cut-off point should be based on a generally accepted methodology and reflect the judgment of competent and qualified individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the basics of determining the cut of point in academic achievement tests.
Materials & Methods: The present study is a review study in which all articles related to the purpose, using keywords of standardization of the test and determination of the cutting point in reputable Persian and English scientific sites were searched..
Results: In the search, it was found that there was no reliable Persian scientific source in determining the cutting point. However, English articles and books in this field were carefully studied.
Conclusion: Despite the importance of determining the correct cut point, especially in academic achievement tests, but Persian texts contain few resources in the field of principles and foundations for doing this and probably the lack of these resources makes researchers less familiar with the correct process of determining the point. Their inclination and tendency to use unscientific methods to do it in their studies. This article can be a useful tool as a guide to the basic principles of determining the cut-off point in academic achievement tests, which puts more emphasis on using the cut-off point for important decisions.

Keywords

Academic achievement tests

Standardization test

Determining the cutting point

1. Zieky, M., M. Perie, and S. Livingston, A primer
on setting cut scores on tests of educational
achievement. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing
Service, 2006. 320.
2. Kaftandjieva, F., Methods for setting cut scores
in criterion-referenced achievement tests. Cito,
Arnhem: EALTA, 2010. 170.
3. http://www.nocti.org/pdf/CRCutScores.pdf.
4. Tavakol, M. and R. Dennick, Standard setting:
the application of the receiver operating
characteristic method. 2012, IJME.
5. Wheaton, A. and J. Parry. Using the Angoff
method to set cut scores. in Users Conference.
2012.
6
.https://www.questionmark.com/us/seminars/Docu
ments/webinar_angoff_handout_may_2012.pdf.
7. Haertel, E.H. and W.A. Lorie, Validating
standards-based test score interpretations.
Measurement, 2004. 2(2): p. 61-103

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