Assessment of items effectiveness of senior secondary school mock chemistry examination conducted by Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

Item analysis is a vital process in test development, employed to determine the psychometric properties of psychological instruments, to ensure the validity and reliability of their measures. This study focused on assessment of items effectiveness of2014 and 2015 Mock Chemistry Examinations, conducted by Akwa Ibom State. A descriptive study was carried on 700 students randomly selected from 18 secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State. Results of item analysis indicated that the two tests

(2014 and 2015) had moderate reliability coefficient of (). 49 and (). 75 respectively. The 2015 test had more difficult items than 2014. The discrimination level of items of2014 test had 26 good items and 24poor items, while that 0/2015 had 25 good items and 25 poor items. The point biserial correlation of items for the 2014 test showed 54% of items having low point biserial, 34% showed acceptable point biserial while 12% had negative point biserial. For the 2015 test, 50% showed very low point biserial, 42% showed acceptable point biserial while 8% of the items had negative point biserial. The good items are recommended for use while the bad ones are restructured for subsequent mock examinations to prepare the students for public examination.