When does the actual determination of test difficulty typically occur?

The actual determination of test difficulty typically occurs after the test has been taken and scored. This is because the difficulty level of a test question can only be accurately assessed based on the responses of the test-takers. Once students complete the test, their performance provides valuable data that can be analyzed to determine which questions were too easy, too hard, or appropriately challenging.

This assessment process involves statistical analysis of the test results, such as calculating the percentage of correct answers for each question. Observing how a group of test-takers performed gives insights into the effectiveness of the questions and their alignment with the intended learning objectives. By evaluating the performance data in this way, educators can ensure that future tests are appropriately challenging and effectively measure the knowledge and skills of the students.