Beta pre-tests under way will help shape process for large scale pre-testing.

• Position: Of Certified Public Accountants - Brief Article

To establish systems and procedures that can easily be used for large-scale pre-testing of new items for the computer-based CPA Examination, limited "beta" pre-testing is being conducted. "Beta pre-testing" refers to the first stage in the pre-test process. In this stage, the scheduling process, draft materials and procedures, and computer programs are tried out to identify and remediate any possible problems. Once the pre-testing process has been refined, large scale pre-testing will begin in early 2002. All universities and CPA firms with lab facilities and sites capable of meeting certain security requirements will be invited to participate in the pre-testing.

In Nov. 2001, the University of North Carolina/Greensboro and the University of Massachusetts/Amherst held on-site beta pre-tests. In three-hour testing sessions, participants were presented with sets of multiple-choice items from new exam sections in a secure, proctored, standardized computer laboratory environment. Both beta tests went extremely well. Additional beta pre-tests at...