The first Chinese language Item Analysis and Test Equating was officially launched
Rasch-GZ
The first Chinese version of Rasch-based item analysis and test equating system. Rasch-GZ is Rasch-based professional system designed for language testing particularly for item analysis and test equating. The powerful functions inherent in Rasch-GZ show the following four aspects:
- ★Item analysis (CTT) and test scoring with unlimited subjects by unlimited items;
- ★Test equating via linking items (Rasch model), with Chi-square test;
- ★ Test report and data plotting to meet users’ desire;
- ★ Online technic support plus Wechat interaction to solve problems in time.
Rasch-GZ, Origin and development
The origins of Rasch-GZ date back to 1989 when I was a PhD student under the strict guidance of Prof. Gui Shi-chun and used GiTEST for the first time to do test equating at Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Languages. That tool is useful for small data sets under DOS environment. Under Prof. Gui’s guidance, we successfully completed the Ten-Year Matriculation English Test (MET) Equating Project (1989-1999) sponsored by National Educational Examination Authority (NEEA) under Ministry of Education, PR China. A mission of great significance in China. However, time flies! With the coming of Internet age, we faced tons of problems! Today’s computers won’t accept the old GiTEST, nor can it run online and so on so forth. In a word, updating is a compulsory so as to be compatible with today’s Internet development. To overcome these limitations in vain, I’ve to abandon GiTEST and managed to create Rasch-GZ instead, a Java application for both CTT and Rasch model analysis, totally reshaping the design and showing expanded scope of the software. Since its first release in 2020, Rasch-GZ v.1.0 has undergone two revisions: Chinese and English. In particular, more detailed interpretation germane to item analysis, test scoring, test equating based on Rasch model is provided in Chinese version so as to promote Rasch application in Chinese-speaking communities home and abroad. Both versions boast friendly window interface, enhanced database features and plotting functions.
In 1984
GITEST written in Basic came into being.
From 1990-1999
GITEST was used for ten-year MET equating project sponsored by National Educational Examination Center (the former of NEEA) under Ministry of Education, PR China.
In 2021
GITEST was fully updated into Rasch-GZ.
In the future
Rasch-GZ will play the role of GITEST. With its Chinese version, we hope it would be of great help for all the Chinese-speaking students, teachers and scholars of non-English major across China and those in Southeast Asia as well as in the other parts of the world
Rasch GZ is upgraded from GITTEST. GITTEST was originally developed by PhD program of applied linguistics in Guangzhou Institute of foreign languages headed by Prof. Gui Shi-chun (1930-2017). Since its development in 1984, GITEST has been used by many universities, research institutions and examination centers in China. It was the only software used by the National Examination Center of the Ministry of Education in the 10-year (1990-1999) MET Equating Project. Accurate and stable in item analysis, test scoring and equating as well as ability estimation, both GITEST and RASCH-GZ have the same efficiency with BILOG, PARSCALE, WINSTEPS in terms of test equating. During the 10-year MET Equating project period, nearly one million statistical operations have been completed. Today, many universities in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu as well as some PhD programs such as the School of Education of City University of Macau, MA students in the Deep Institute of Education in the United States and in TSU, the Philippines are using Rasch-GZ as an effective tool for scientific research and thesis writing. The Pacific Rim Objective Measurement Symposium (PROMS) is held once a year in the Pacific Rim regions and countries. Every time Chinese scholars attending the conference would use estimates and parameters based on their research data yielded from GITEST or Rasch-GZ as the basis for the objective assessment, which has been well recognized by international peers
PROMS
Rasch GZ has been in line with international practice for a long time. Fully upgraded from its old version of GITEST, which has been used by many universities, research institutions and examination centers in China since 1984.
Professor Zhang Quan
He has been committed to the promotion and application of Rasch model in China and its integration with the world for a long time
Prof. Zhang Quan has been committed to the promotion and application of Rasch model in China and its integration with the counterparts outside China for a long time. Prof. Zhang Quan PhD is the developer and copyright holder of Rasch-GZ. Prof. Zhang became PhD student under Prof. Gui Shi-chun in 1989 and has been totally devoted to the research of cognition and language testing ever since. As a key member, Prof. Zhang Quan got involved in MET equating project (1990-1999). As a PhD professor, Prof. Zhang was the dean and PhD supervisor in several universities including the former 1st Military Medical University, PLA and Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, Jiaxing University in Zhejiang Province, City University of Macau, Macau, SAR and Deep Institute of Education in Wisconsin, USA. In 2002, as a senior visiting scholar, Prof. Zhang sponsored by Chinese government scholarship was invited to visit ETS. From 2006-2008, Prof. Zhang was invited as a senior research scholar by Prof. Lyle F. Bachman to pursue further studies at UCLA. From 2012 on, he has been acting as the PROMS representative of China Mainland.
Zhang Quan obtained his PhD of Applied linguistics under the guidance of Prof. Gui Sh-chun in 1993
Photo taken with Prof. Gui Shi-chun and Prof. Lyle. F. Bachman, the latter was invited to give lectures on campus of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in 2016.
Photo taken at welcome ceremony with Prof. Lyle F. Bachman and Prof. Barbara, both of whom were invited to give lectures on campus of Jiaxing University, Zhejiang China in 2013
Feature list of Rasch-GZ
Rasch GZ is specially designed, with friendly window interface and in line with international practices. It is the first Chinese platform based on Rasch model in China's history
It is the specific embodiment of the will of Professor Gui Shichun, the founder of China's standardized examination and China's applied linguistics
- Written in Java according to Rasch Model, Rasch-GZ assumes binary (right-wrong) scoring;
- Designed for applications of both CTT and Rasch to practical testing problems;
- Maximum likelihood (ML);
- Tests of fit for individual items;
- Analysis of multiple subtests in one pass;
- Item analysis and test paper evaluation and report in both Chinese and English;
- Feedback for teaching and testing moderation and improvement;
- Linking of 2 test forms through common items (good for test equating);
- Unlimited data matrix of items/ candidates/in a single run;
- prior to run, the number of linking items can be adjusted, and non-eligible items can be automatically removed based on the value given by Chi-square test
- Good data curve plotting function;
- Online technical support plus wechat interaction to solve problems in time.
- Accepts both text and Excel data file. The output file is a WORD document, which can be copied at will;
Who uses Rasch GZ？
Educators, measurement professionals, and language testing practitioners, MA and PhD candidates of applied linguistics and educational management across China Mainland and beyond are using Rasch-GZ. The map below shows the distribution of people who have download Rasch-GZ.
Cooperations and Exchanges
Reference books for Rasch counterparts
News，Events and Conferences
Latest news
ROMS 2022 Hanoi, Vietnam is held on campus of Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences, Dec.01-03. 2022
International e-Colloquium 2022(Malaysia)
PROMS2021 was grandly held in the School of Psychology of Nanjing Normal University (Nanjing, China)
