A robust system of continuous and adaptive assessment to continuously inform teaching learning processes and optimize learning for all students is a key focus area of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. In this context, the Central Board of Secondary Education in collaboration with Azim Premji University, Bengaluru and Central Square Foundation has developed the Handbook of Assessment and Evaluation: Best Practices in Item Design and Test Development. This handbook will help teachers of all subjects to design test items that are a valid and reliable measure of the student learning.
Some of the intended objectives of this handbook are to:
Provide guidance for test developers who create questions or tasks for learning assessments;
Ellaborate the role of an learning frameworks for item writing, characteristics, and development of high-quality assessment instruments; and
Provide inputs for writing good items, including the construction of marking guides
This handbook breaks down the process of developing assessments into well defined, easy to comprehend modules which would help teachers to design accurate test items for testing varied competencies. The book is available on CBSE Academic website at the link http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Manuals/Assessment-Evaluation_handbook.pdf.
Teachers are encouraged to use this handbook as a ready reference for developing assessments in their subjects. School heads are requested to kindly ensure wider circulation of this resource for teachers so that they are enabled to adopt a comprehensive and scientific approach to test design that aligns to the curriculum learning outcomes.
