Number of Trainees

DOE-HDBK-1205-97

Number of Trainees

The number of trainees that take a test can impact on the format chosen for the test. A

key advantage of certain formats is quick scoring. If a test is used for a large number of

people, this may be the best choice. However, quality should never be sacrificed for

quantity.

Time

Essay tests generally require more time to administer and score. Essay tests may require

an hour to administer four questions, while four multiple choice questions can typically be

completed in a few minutes. The length of a written test should not exceed the number of

test items which could be answered in two hours by the average trainee. This may require

assembling several tests for a given instructional area. Time is also a factor in the

administration of performance tests. It can easily take several hours to set up and

administer a performance test on a simulator or in an on-the-job location.

Before tests can be developed, the appropriate test format should be selected. There are

three basic formats:

Written tests

Oral question tests

Performance tests.