What is band scoring?
Band scoring is a method of scoring which assigns the same final test score to candidates who correctly answer a range of questions. For instance, on an 80 question test, candidates who answer between 64 and 67 questions correctly might receive an 85, candidates who answer between 68 and 71 correctly an 90, etc. This is similar to the letter scoring system typically used in schools. Band scoring recognizes that even the best possible test is often not precise enough to make one point distinctions in true candidate abilities, nor can it assess all the abilities relative to a given job. In such cases, band scores are a more appropriate reflection of the relative knowledge, skills and abilities of the candidates competing in the test. Band scoring has been endorsed by professionals in the measurement field as a methodology which is appropriate to use in a wide variety of circumstances, and has withstood legal challenge, although the courts have ruled that bands should not be set too broad
