Can computers write college admissions tests?

Abstract

FOR MANY YEARS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS HAVE BEEN SCORED BY MACHINES, AND RECENTLY COMPUTERS HAVE ASSEMBLED EXISTING ITEMS INTO TESTS AND HAVE SCORED ESSAY EXAMINATIONS. THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPUTER ITEM WRITING. A COMPUTER PROCEDURE FOR WRITING VERBAL COMPREHENSION ITEMS WAS DEVELOPED AND USED TO WRITE A 72-ITEM TEST. THIS TEST, TOGETHER WITH THE WIDE RANGE VOCABULARY TEST, WAS ADMINISTERED TO UNIVERSITY FRESHMEN. THE TEST INTERCORRELATIONS, RELIABILITIES, AND CORRELATIONS WITH GRADES SUGGEST THAT, IN PRINCIPLE, COMPUTERS CAN WRITE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS. POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS TO COMPUTER-WRITTEN TESTS ARE CONSIDERED. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)