How are tests scored?
Tests are normally scored using an answer key of some sort. In the case of ability tests, the answer key provides the ‘correct’ answer to each question and usually a positive number (most commonly 1) is assigned for a correct answer and a zero is assigned for an incorrect answer (though there might be exceptions to this general rule). The scores are then totalled to obtain what is called the “Raw Score” on the test. In the case of personality questionnaires, there are no right answers as such. In this case, particular responses will contribute to one or other side of a personality dimension. For example, suppose a personality questionnaire contains a question such as “I like going to parties”, to which the possible responses are (a) agree, (b) uncertain and (c) disagree. If the person gives response (a), this might then contribute a score of 2 points to a scale of Sociability. A response of (b) might contribute just one point to this same scale and a response of (c) would contribute ze
