Computerized adaptive testing and multistage testing

This article provides an overview of the basic concepts of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and multistage testing. The basic idea of CAT is described, key methods used to specify CAT's six building blocks (item pool, start of the test, person parameter estimation, item selection, constraint management, and end of the test) are presented, and empirical results on the effects of this special kind of testing on different outcome variables are summarized. It is concluded that CAT is likely to play a further-growing role in future assessments as a core element in dynamic testing systems with real-time optimization processes.