Item Analysis of Achievement Test in the Subject of English for Grade 8 Developed by Punjab Examination Commission

Abstract

Item analysis can serve as a useful tool in improving Multiple-Choice Questions used in Examination. It can identify gaps between instruction and assessment. The primary objective of conducting this research was to analyze the items of question papers (based on MCQs) of Punjab Examination Commission for class 8th for the Examinations Tests, on English subject in different schools of district Multan. In particular, the objectives of the study were to find the items difficulties on the basis of difficulty index (p), discrimination power (D), reliability and validity of the tests. Through traditional method of item analysis, difficulty index, discriminatory index and phi-coefficient were calculated. The test was administered to the sample of 229 students and all format of English Papers which comprising of four versions at 20 schools of rural and urban (10 each) including 10 boys and 10 girls’ schools of Multan district. Separate answer sheets were provided to students included in the sample. After collecting answer sheets, marks were awarded. Several worksheets were prepared to perform item analysis. It was found that some deficiencies were found in the items of question papers of Punjab Examination Commission for 8th grade. It was recommended to overcome those deficiencies and drop the difficult items.