This Is a Test
A Handbook for Writing Good Tests
by Jan Gleiter

Foreword

What a good book this is! Some handbooks lie dormant on the shelf, some deservedly so. But not so with this one. Jan Gleiter's short, commonsensical approach provides much-needed clarity to the oft-overlooked task of test construction at all grade levels. Through generous helpings of flawed and valid examples of questions and their answers, Gleiter gently guides readers through familiar territory, causing us to see testing in a new light.

Her keen sense of humor and elegant prose make this a must-read and a must-reread for both novice and expert test developers. I suspect the “Aha” moments will occur at different places with each read.

The 15 rules of good test writing unfold naturally as Gleiter narrates her story of the what, when, why, and how of different types of test items. The final chapter provides not just a summary but also a hands-on exercise to help ensure that what remains in the minds of readers is not inert knowledge but ready-to-use skills. This is a Test is a test worth taking.

Vincent L. Cyboran, Ed.D.
Graduate Program in Training and Development
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois