One important aspect affecting the difficulty of multiple choice test items is the quality of distracters. Some distracters, in fact, might not be distracting at
all, and therefore serve no purpose.
40
Because the parts of multiple choice items include the item stem, or the main part of the item at the top, the options, which
are the alternative choices presented to the student, the correct answer, which is the option that will be counted as correct, and the distracters, which are the
options that will be counted as incorrect.
41
In a good test item, the distracters must be functioned effectively, if the distracter are not functioned, they should be rewritten or discarded. Distracter
analysis is done by comparing the number of students in the upper group and the lower group who select each incorrect alternative.
D. The Importance of Item Analysis
The result of item analysis can be used to select items of desired difficulty that best discriminate between high and low achieving students. However the
results of an item analysis can be useful in identifying faulty items and can provide information about student misconception and topics that need additional
work.
42
The benefits of item analysis are not limited to the improvement of individual test items; however there are a number of fringe benefits of special
value to classroom teachers. The most important of these are the following: 1. Item analysis data provide a basis for efficient class discussion of
the test result. 2. Item analysis data provide a basis for remedial work.
3. Item analysis data provide a basis for the general improvement of classroom instruction.
40
Nana Sujana, Penilaian Hasil Proses Belajar Mengajar, Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya, 2001, p. 141.
41
James Dean Brown, Testing in Language Programs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents, 1996, p.70.
42
Norman E Grondlund and Robert L. Linn, Measurement and..., p. 315.
4. Item analysis procedures provide a basis for increased skill in test construction.
43
Based on the statement above there are so much benefit that teacher could find in doing analyze in items. All the benefits are related to the achievement in students’
score. While Nitko states in his book, the important of item analysis are:
Determining whether an item functions as the teacher intends, feedback to students about their performance and as basis for class discussion, feedback to the
teacher about pupil difficulties, areas for curriculum improvement, revising the items, improving item writing skills.
44
So that, item analysis should be done by the teacher, because with doing analysis, that facilitate teachers in measuring students, motivate students to studied well,
active in every class performance and make teacher easy to measure the item question that was good or not.
43
Norman E Grondlund and Robert L. Linn, Measurement and…, p. 316.
44
Anthony j. Nitko Educational test…, p.284.
25
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A. The Objective of The Study
The objective of this study is to measure the quality of difficulty level of English Summative test items at odd semester of the second grade students at
SMP YMJ Ciputat, specifically in difficulty level of each item. This research is regarded as a field for the writer wish to widen her or his knowledge both
theoretically and practically about testing, specifically about difficulty level of the test items.
B. Place and Time of The Study
The research was conducted at SMP Yayasan Miftahul Jannah YMJ Ciputat. This is located at Jl. Limun No. 27 Ciputat Tangerang Selatan. The
writer did the research from January 5
th
up to February 10, 2010. The writer took the English Summative test question paper and the students’ answer sheet at odd
semester of the second grade students at SMP YMJ Ciputat.
C. Research Method
In this research the writer used quantitative analysis technique. The data are calculated using simple percentage formula. It is used to find out difficulty
level of each item of English Summative test at odd semester of the second grade students at SMP YMJ Ciputat, Academic year 2009-2010.
D. Research Instrument
1 The students’ answer sheet The students’ answer sheet is papers in which students give their answer
that correspondent to English summative test.
