TY - JOUR
T1 - Seek whence
T2 - Answer sequences and their consequences in key-balanced multiple-choice tests
AU - Bar-Hillel, Maya
AU - Attali, Yigal
PY - 2002/11
Y1 - 2002/11
N2 - The producers of the SAT balance answer keys rather than randomizing them. Whereas randomization yields keys that are balanced only on average, balancing assures this in every subtest: Balancing is a well-kept trade secret, and there is no evidence of awareness that it is exploitable. However, balancing leaves identifiable traces on answer keys. We present the evidence for key balancing, its signatures, and the ways in which testwise examinees can exploit it. Exploitation can add as much as 16 points to one's SAT score.
AB - The producers of the SAT balance answer keys rather than randomizing them. Whereas randomization yields keys that are balanced only on average, balancing assures this in every subtest: Balancing is a well-kept trade secret, and there is no evidence of awareness that it is exploitable. However, balancing leaves identifiable traces on answer keys. We present the evidence for key balancing, its signatures, and the ways in which testwise examinees can exploit it. Exploitation can add as much as 16 points to one's SAT score.
KW - Randomization
KW - SAT
KW - Testwiseness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036842932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1198/000313002623
DO - 10.1198/000313002623
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
AN - SCOPUS:0036842932
SN - 0003-1305
VL - 56
SP - 299
EP - 303
JO - American Statistician
JF - American Statistician
IS - 4
ER -