Psychometric aspects of pupil monitoring systems

Pupil monitoring systems support the teacher in tailoring teaching to the individual level of a student and in comparing the progress and results of teaching with national standards. The systems are based on the availability of an item bank calibrated using item response theory. The assessment of the students’ progress and results can be further supported by using computerized adaptive testing where the items selected from the item bank are targeted at the specific ability level of the student. The present article discusses psychometric issues of pupil monitoring systems, such as ability estimation, the optimal construction of tests from the item bank and monitoring of progress.