Item analysis is used to evaluate test items, especially multiple choice items, to determine what?

• A. To determine the final grade a student receives
• B. To evaluate test items, especially multiple choice, and indicate the overall test quality
• C. To create new test items
• D. To standardize item administration across settings

Answer: (B)

Item analysis focuses on how well each item functions and how that impacts the test as a whole. It examines aspects like item difficulty, how well an item discriminates between higher- and lower-ability students, and how effectively the distractors work. This information shows whether the items, together, provide reliable and valid measurement and helps decide if revisions are needed to improve the test. The other options don’t capture that broader purpose: final grades come from scoring, not item performance; creating new items is a separate design task; and standardizing administration deals with procedures, not item quality.