To develop a test with a dependable pass/fail ratio first requires extensive field testing of sample exams to gauge the difficulty of each question, plus the exam as a whole.
Much as regulators and automakers have rushed to deal with the flood of distractions that invade the automobile — GPS displays, Internet radio, e-mail and even Facebook apps — there is a growing effort by engineers to build cars that gauge the difficulty of situations and recognize a driver in distress.
The Fire Department saw the number of mountain rescues double from four to eight last year, which officials attributed to out-of-town hikers who fail to properly gauge the difficulty of the trail.
Some people count the number of delayed flights, others gauge the difficulties of getting in and out, and some critique the amenities.
And to help improve the algorithms, computer scientists now have a set of benchmarks the Eterna100 to gauge the design difficulty of RNA structures.
That does not mean the automakers face a lethal threat, Mr. Brickman added, but it does show the difficulty of gauging the danger.
Critics say it would make little or no difference.The disagreement reflects the difficulty of gauging the impact of free-trade agreements.
The difficulty of gauging the extent of this popular support is increased by the factionalism in the Communist movement and by the fact that the motivations of its particpants ra nge from outright gangsterism to a form of Maoist ideology.
Campaigners and medical ethics experts say the case illustrates two key points in the debate over assisted dying: the difficulty of gauging informed consent, and the messy legal compromise over who, if anyone, is prosecuted for helping people to die.
