Next, another group looks the questions over for unintentional bias against minorities. Finally, portions of the test are field-tested. The last step is figuring out the passing score. Another diverse group of experts first estimates what that would be, then takes the test and compares the group's scores with their estimates. The passing score chosen is a judgment call, Berger said.
Exams are a different combination each year of stored questions and new ones.
Security measures by the state Education Department ensure that nobody outside its own staff ever sees the entire test. St. Petersburg Times.