Which method uses the importance and difficulty level of each test item to establish a cut score?

• A. Angoff method
• B. Modified Angoff method
• C. Ebel Method
• D. Compensatory Grading

Answer: (C)

Setting a passing score by weighing how important each item is and how hard it is. In this method, experts rate every test item on two dimensions: its importance to the domain (essential, important, incidental) and its difficulty (easy, medium, hard). Items are placed into a grid, and for each cell the judges indicate what level of performance is required to be considered proficient on items of that type. The overall cut score is then derived by combining these cell judgments, so items that are more important or more difficult carry more weight. This ties the passing standard directly to what the test is emphasizing and how challenging the items are, making the cut score defensible and aligned with content goals.

Compared to other approaches, the Angoff method asks judges to estimate the probability a minimally competent examinee would answer each item correctly, without explicitly factoring item importance or difficulty into a two-axis framework. The modified Angoff is a variation of that approach. Compensatory grading focuses on combining or weighting scores across items rather than a structured standard-setting process tied to item characteristics.