The first evaluation aimed at investigating to what extent the machine-generated questions (MQs) were able to measure English proficiency of test takers.
Assuming that scores estimated by the mixture PD models are more accurate reflections of proficiency, the EAP scores estimated by the 2PLM appeared to underestimate the proficiency of test takers showing PD.
This study, as any other employing data from the PIRLS, PISA, and TIMSS, is representative of students who have a certain degree of proficiency in the language of testing.
The instrument has been piloted with tertiary EFL learners in Singapore, and has also been tested extensively in Australia on students who were newly arrived in that country, and thus had EFL equivalent proficiency at the time of testing.
For example, Schnepf ([2007]) argued that the gap would likely be larger for reading than mathematics because assessments of mathematics require fewer linguistic skills than reading assessments; this would relate directly to immigrant students' proficiency in the language of testing.
During this vulnerable period, how to assess proficiency of the testing effectively and objectively, and how to assure and improve the quality are open issues to be addressed.
As prenatal screening for syphilis using POCTs becomes widely implemented, an EQA method appropriate for use with blood collected by a finger prick must be developed to assure the proficiency of POC testing in rural or remote areas.
Thus, there are no federal requirements for testing the proficiency of molecular genetic testing [ 72].
A significant aspect of capacity building activities consisted in the provision of hands-on training in laboratory analysis and implementation of a proficiency testing program externally monitored by the ICRL, again not a frequent practice in clinical trials.
Figure 2 illustrates the influence of the proficiency testing program in a sample laboratory that adjusted its methods in response to technical advice given, showing consistently improving performance between the first and last cycle.
