A score test is a statistical test of a simple null hypothesis that a parameter of interest θ is equal

to some particular value θ0. It is the most powerful test when the true value of θ is close to θ0.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Single parameter test

o 1.1 The statistic
 1.1.1 Note on notation
o 1.2 Justification
o 1.3 The case of a likelihood with nuisance
parameters
o 1.4 As most powerful test for small deviations
o 1.5 Relationship with Wald test
• 2 Multiple parameters
• 3 Special cases
• 4 References

• 5 See also

[edit] Single parameter test

[edit] The statistic

Let L be the likelihood function which depends on a univariate parameter θ and let x be the data.
The score is U(θ) where

The observed Fisher information is,

The statistic to test H0:θ = θ0 is

which takes a distribution asymptotically when H0 is true.

[edit] Note on notation

Note that some texts use an alternative notation, in which the statistic is
tested against a normal distribution. This approach is equivalent and gives identical results.

[edit] Justification
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expansion.

[edit] The case of a likelihood with nuisance parameters

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by adding to it.

[edit] As most powerful test for small deviations

Where L is the likelihood function, θ0 is the value of the parameter of interest under the null
hypothesis, and C is a constant set depending on the size of the test desired (i.e. the probability of
rejecting H0 if H0 is true; see Type I error).

The score test is the most powerful test for small deviations from H0. To see this, consider testing
θ = θ0 versus θ = θ0 + h. By the Neyman-Pearson lemma, the most powerful test has the form

Taking the log of both sides yields

The score test follows making the substitution

and identifying the C above with log(K).

[edit] Relationship with Wald test

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 by adding to it.

[edit] Multiple parameters

A more general score test can be derived when there is more than one parameter. Suppose that
is the maximum likelihood estimate of θ under the null hypothesis H0. Then

asymptotically under H0, where k is the number of constraints imposed by the null hypothesis
and

and

This can be used to test H0.

[edit] Special cases

In many situations, the score statistic reduces to another commonly used statistic [1].

When the data follows a normal distribution, the score statistic is the same as the t statistic.

When the data consists of binary observations, the score statistic is the same as the chi-squared
statistic in the Pearson chi-square test.

When the data consists of failure time data in two groups, the score statistic is the same as the
log-rank statistic in the log-rank test.

Instructional Data Processing › Test Scoring and Analysis

CIE offers a free test scoring and analysis service for objective, multiple-choice examinations to
faculty teaching regularly-scheduled credit courses on the West Lafayette campus. The service
provides high levels of reliability, accuracy, and security with a 24-hour turnaround time.

The test scoring package offers many scoring and reporting options that make it possible to grade
everything from a short quiz to a lengthy final exam. Answer sheets are available in several sizes
and formats. Scoring procedures can include item weights, either-or scoring, converting raw
scores to percentages, etc. You can order student grade reports sorted in a number of ways and
statistical summaries that provide information about the scores obtained and the individual items
in the test.

For more information on test scoring services, click here. Or you can call 49-45112. All
information and materials needed for the service, including the machine-readable student
response forms, can be obtained from CIE in Room G-39, Stewart Center. Response forms should
be returned to G-39 for scoring and analysis.

The test scoring package provides instructors with the flexibility of item weighting, "either-or"
scoring, and "formula" scoring (subtracting a fraction of the items wrong as a correction for
guessing). CIE data processing staff also can rescale scores into percentages, z-scores, and T-
scores. Instructors can have a test rescored if they make an error on the key; however, reruns are
given lower priority during final examination periods.

Instructors can get a variety of reports with information about student performance as well as the
test. Student performance reports also may be sorted in a number of ways to help assign grades
and maintain class records. For example, instructors can use data in the Score distribution report
to establish grade cutoffs, while the Item Analysis report helps instructors assess the level of
student achievement on individual test questions.

Five types of machine-readable answer sheets are available:

1. One hundred fifty items with five responses each (available in several colors).
2. Thirty items with five responses each (available in two colors).
3. One hundred items with ten responses each (available in brown).
4. Fifty items with five responses each (available in orange). These sheets also have space for
up to fifteen hand-graded items to be included in the scoring. The points assigned for the
hand-graded items must be written in and gridded in as three-digit whole numbers.

5. Six items with five responses each (available in two colors).

Instructors must fill out a "Request for Test Scoring Service" worksheet each time they need to
have a test scored. This worksheet outlines the scoring and reporting options available and allows
instructors to tailor the service to their individual needs.
Scoring Subject Tests
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How SAT Subject Test scores are reported

The SAT score report contains useful information about a student's performance, including a
comparison with scores of other test-takers in last year's college-bound senior class. Online score
reports are supplemented with other tools to help students make decisions about taking high
school courses, applying to college, and choosing a major.

High schools can choose from several delivery methods for individual student scores. The
College Board also offers useful group reports for analysis of school- and district-wide SAT
performance.

Score ranges and percentiles

Scores are approximations rather than precise measures of skill. Student performance is best
measured by score ranges. The score range offers a better picture of a student's skill than a
single score. College admission officers ask that ranges be included in score reports and accept
students with a wide range of test scores.

Students, high schools, and colleges can compare performance on any Subject Test with the
performance of other college-bound seniors by looking at percentile ranks listed on the score
report. Read more about using score ranges and percentiles to compare scores.

How SAT Subject Tests are scored

SAT Subject Tests are scored in two steps:

• The raw score is established

• The raw score is converted to the College Board 200- to 800-point scaled
score

Establishing the raw score

All questions on Subject Tests are multiple choice. To establish the raw score:

• One point is added for each correct answer.

• A fraction of a point is subtracted for wrong answers:
o 1/4 point is subtracted for five-choice questions.
o 1/3 point is subtracted for four-choice questions.
o 1/2 point is subtracted for three-choice questions.
• No points are deducted for unanswered questions.
• The total points answered incorrectly are subtracted from the number
answered correctly.
 • If the resulting score is a fraction, it is rounded to the nearest whole number
—1/2 or more is rounded up; less than 1/2 is rounded down.

Converting the raw score to the scaled score

The raw score is converted to the College Board 200- to 800-point scaled score by a statistical
process called equating.

Equating adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between test editions and ensures that:

• A student's score does not depend on the specific test edition she took.
• A student's score does not depend on how well others did on the same
edition of the test.

The scaled score is reported to colleges. Total test scores for all Subject Tests are reported on the
College Board 200- to 800-point scale.

How are the Subject Test subscores computed?

Subject Test subscores are used to compute the total score, but their individual contributions (or
weights) are not all the same.

For some Language Tests, subscores are provided for listening, reading, and usage.

• For the French, German, and Spanish with Listening Tests, the reading
subscore counts twice as much as the listening subscore.
• Subscores for the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tests are weighted equally.