Norcini J, et al. Medical Teacher. 2011;33:3, 206-214

Importance of Conclusion

Criteria for good assessment include validity, consistency, equivalence, feasibility and drives future learning forward.

Key Points

Good assessment criteria include:

• Validity or coherence. There is a body of evidence that is coherent (‘‘hangs together’’) and that supports the use of the results of an assessment for a particular purpose.
• Reproducibility or consistency. The results of the assessment would be the same if repeated under similar circumstances.
• Equivalence. The same assessment yields equivalent scores or decisions when administered across different institutions or cycles of testing.
• Feasibility. The assessment is practical, realistic, and sensible, given the circumstances and context.
• Educational effect. The assessment motivates those who take it to prepare in a fashion that has educational benefit.
• Catalytic effect. The assessment provides results and feedback in a fashion that creates, enhances, and supports education; it drives future learning forward.
• Acceptability. Stakeholders find the assessment process and results to be credible.

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