What is the purpose of pretesting questions in the examination?

• A. To determine candidate eligibility
• B. To collect statistics about new questions for future examinations
• C. To increase the number of scored questions
• D. To assess the difficulty of the examination

Answer: (B)

Pretesting questions serves the important function of collecting statistics about new questions for future examinations. This process allows examiners to evaluate how well the questions perform in assessing the knowledge and skills they are intended to measure. By including questions in a pretest phase, educators gain insights into the question's clarity, difficulty level, and discrimination power—essentially how well a question differentiates between knowledgeable candidates and those who are less prepared.

Questions that perform well in pretesting can then be validated and used in future exams, ensuring that the examination remains rigorous and effective. This continuous feedback loop helps in maintaining the quality of the assessments over time. The data gathered can aid in refining existing questions or in developing new ones that are relevant to the field, enhancing the overall quality of the examination process.