ABSTRACT
Whether you are developing MC test items for a class you teach or for a testing program, the pressure to produce a large collection of high-quality test items is omnipresent. New items are always needed because old items based on old content may be retiring. Case et al. (2001) reported on new-item development for several medical credentialing examinations. They stated that a significant portion of the budget for test development is given to creating new items. Item writing is a costly enterprise. Item generation refers to any procedure that speeds up this item-writing process. Because new and better items are always needed, any strategy to increase both the quality of items and the rate of production is welcome.
