Testing Memos Overview
by
Robert B. Frary
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 
University

     During the 1978-79 academic year, A Testing 
Advisory Committee served the Research and 
Measurement Division at the Learning Resources 
Center at Viginia Tech. In response to 
faculty inquiries about various aspects of testing, 
the Committee prepared a series of seven 
TESTING MEMOS. As years have passed, these 
MEMOS have been reprinted a number of times 
both at Virginia Tech and at other 
universities. Since 1991, four additional 
MEMOS have been circulated.
     Members of the Committee were Robert B. 
Frary (Chairman), Lawrence H. Cross, Jerard 
F. Kehoe, and Larry J. Weber. Frary wrote 
MEMOS 1 and 2, Cross wrote MEMOS 3 and 6, 
Kehoe wrote MEMOS 4 and 5, and Weber wrote 
MEMO 7. Subsequent MEMOS 8-10 were written 
by Frary and MEMO 11 is by Cross. The titles 
are:
     MEMO 1: Guessing on Multiple-Choice Tests
     MEMO 2: How Difficult Should a Test Be?
     MEMO 3: Essay Tests
     MEMO 4: Constructing Multiple-Choice 
     Tests-I
     MEMO 5: Constructing Multiple-Choice 
     Tests-II
     MEMO 6: What Kind of Grades Should Be
     Averaged?
     MEMO 7: Assigning Letter Grades to Test
     Scores
     MEMO 8: Reliability of Test Scores
     MEMO 9: Grades for Assignments Not Done 
     and Tests Not Taken
     MEMO 10: Some Multiple-Choice Item Writing
     Do's and Don'ts
     MEMO 11: Absolute Versus Relative Grading
     Standards: What Does a Percentage Mean?

For more information, contact Bob Frary at

Robert B. Frary, Director of Measurement 
and Research Services
Office of Measurement and Research Services
2096 Derring Hall
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 
University
Blacksburg, VA 24060
703/231-5413 (voice)
frary#064;vtvm1.cc.vt.edu
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