1. Setting Cutoff Scores in C4
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Copyright © 2009 Biddle Consulting Group, Inc.

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3. General Notes Cutoff scores in C4 are set based on AutoTest Codes
AutoTest Codes are a series of test modules that an employer groups together for testing for a specific job or job category
You must create an AutoTest Code using the Test Creation Wizard (or the AutoTest Setup feature) before cutoff scores for that AutoTest code can be set
Cutoff scores are typically determined by an employer’s own “subject matter experts” using C4’s Validation Wizard feature
They are then entered using the “Set Cutoff Scores” feature in the C4 Administrator’s Program

4. Table of Contents Quick Links
Click here with your mouse to continue the presentation about setting cutoff scores
Click here to jump ahead in the presentation to the section on using Cutoff Scores and Printing Candidate Score Reports with Pass or Fail Status Indicated

5. Before you set cutoff scores …
We strongly recommend that you review the validation report you created before you set any cutoff scores to make certain all of the information has been entered appropriately by your job experts

6. Before you set your cutoff scores you should check to see whether you have used the Validation Wizard feature for the AutoTest Code in question
To do this, click on the “Validation Report” link in the C4 Administrator’s Program

7. Select the AutoTest Code you wish to view from the Validation Report menu

8. If you have not validated this AutoTest Code using the Validation Wizard you will see this message

9. You are now ready to set your cutoff scores.
If you have validated this AutoTest Code using the Validation Wizard you will see this screen 7
After 7 to 10 Job Experts have used the Validation Wizard, it should say “Yes” for all of the tests. If not, you will need to create a new AutoTest Code without the invalid tests
It is recommended that a minimum of 7 to 10 Job Experts use the Validation Wizard to validate the tests, if possible
You are now ready to set your cutoff scores.
Hint: It may be helpful to print the Validation Report before you set the cutoff scores

10. Click here
To set the cutoff scores, you first click on the “Set Cutoff Scores” link on the C4 Administrator’s Screen

11. initially appears here – for other AutoTest Codes
Default AutoTest Code
initially appears here –
Use this menu to view
cutoff score settings
for other AutoTest Codes
This is the screen you see if the listed AutoTest Code has been validated using the “Validation Wizard” feature

12. The message below appears on the screen if no Validation Report has been run for the chosen AutoTest Code
“Call Center”
Note: This message will also appear if Subject Matter Experts have responded to the Validation Wizard survey for the listed AutoTest Code, but the Validation Report feature has not been run in the Administrator’s Program for that AutoTest Code

13. The first column shows the tests contained in this AutoTest Code

14. The second column is where you set the cutoff scores for each of the tests

15. First choice: Keep the cutoff score at “none,” which is the default.
Default is “None”
If a Validation Report has been run for this AutoTest Code you have five choices when setting cutoff scores…
First choice: Keep the cutoff score at “none,” which is the default.
This means the cutoff score is set at zero – everyone passes no matter what they score.

16. Less 1 SEM
Second choice: Set the cutoff score at the cutoff score suggested by your subject matter experts less one standard error of measurement

17. This is a sample of the Report Summary section of a C4Validation Report
Where do the cutoff scores in the “Cutoff Score Setup” screen come from?
The cutoff scores listed in the “Cutoff Score Setup” area match the cutoff scores shown in the Report Summary section of the C4 Validation Report Summary

18. U.S. v. South Carolina, 434 US 1026 (1978)
Question: Why is there more than one recommend cutoff score for each test?
Answer: Because no tests are perfect. They include "measurement error" and the U.S. Supreme Court has supported adjusting minimum passing (cutoff) scores to account for this.
U.S. v. South Carolina, 434 US 1026 (1978)

19. The U.S. Supreme Court has supported that when a test is used for selection (i.e., hiring) purposes, employers consider adjusting the cutoff score downward one, two, or three standard error of measurements (SEMs) considering the five factors below

20. What is a Standard Error of Measurement?
The standard error of measurement for each test is shown in the Detailed Validation Report
What is a Standard Error of Measurement?
If a person were to take the same test repeatedly, with no change in his or her level of knowledge and preparation, it is possible that some of the resulting scores would be slightly higher or slightly lower than the score that precisely reflects the person’s actual level of knowledge and ability. The Standard Error of Measurement sets a boundary around where these hypothetical scores will lie. For example, a person who scores 45 on a typing test that has a SEM of 5 would most likely score between 40 and 50 about 70% of the time.

21. SEM refers to the standard error of measurement
If you had to compute the standard error of measurement yourself, you would use this formula
SEM refers to the standard error of measurement
SD refers to the standard deviation of test scores
rxy refers to the reliability of the test
Note: More sophisticated methods are available for computing conditional SEMs (SEMs that change throughout the test score range) for tests that have more test items than are typically contained on CritiCall tests.

22. If you had to compute the standard error of measurement, you would use this formula
SEM refers to the standard error of measurement
SD refers to the standard deviation of test scores
rxy refers to the reliability of the test
The C4 System
automatically computes the standard error of measurement and adjusted cutoff scores so you don’t have to
For more details, refer to the “Test Validation” chapter, “Cutoff Scores” section, of the CritiCall Administrator’s Manual

23. For example, the average less one SEM for this test is
the average of suggested cutoffs (65%) minus one SEM (1.718), which is rounded out to 63%.
Calculating the adjusted cutoff scores using the standard error of measurement
The average less two SEMs for this test is
the average of suggested cutoffs (65%) minus two SEMs (3.435), which is rounded out to 62.
We follow the same logic for the average less three SEMs

24. So, the U.S. Supreme Court recommends you consider using one of these three cutoff scores instead of the average of suggested cutoffs
Please contact Biddle Consulting Group, Inc. at if you have additional questions about how cutoff scores are indicated in the Validation Report

25. Less 2 SEMs
Third choice: Set the cutoff score at the cutoff score suggested by your subject matter experts less two standard error of measurements

26. Less 3 SEMs
Fourth choice: Set the cutoff score at the cutoff score suggested by your subject matter experts less three standard error of measurements

27. Fifth choice: Set a custom cutoff score.
Add cutoff score
Fifth choice: Set a custom cutoff score.
Be extremely careful when setting custom cutoff scores since you may increase your liability exposure if you set an inappropriate cutoff score

28. First choice: Keep the cutoff score at “none,” which is the default.
Default is “None”
If no Validation Report has been run for this AutoTest Codeyou will have only two choices
First choice: Keep the cutoff score at “none,” which is the default.
This means the cutoff score is set at zero – everyone passes no matter what they score.

29. If no Validation Report has been run for this AutoTest Code
Add cutoff score
We recommend entering one of the adjusted cutoff scores (average cutoff score minus one, two, or three standard errors of measurement) listed in the Validation Report you have produced for this AutoTest Code
If no Validation Report has been run for this AutoTest Code
Second choice: Set the cutoff score at the cutoff score suggested by your subject matter experts or using some custom cutoff score

30. The third column shows how the cutoff score will be used
Rule: Pass/Fail
If a test taker scores below the cutoff score that has been set for ANY test that uses the “Pass/Fail” rule, that test taker fails that test. This rule currently cannot be changed or modified.

31. “Low SME Warning” is shown if less than 7 SMEs used the
The final column indicates the total number of the subject matter experts (SMEs) who have used the Validation Wizard for this AutoTest Code
Number of Subject
Matter Experts
“Low SME Warning” is shown
if less than 7 SMEs used the
Validation Wizard for this test
The U.S. Courts indicate that a minimum of seven to ten Subject Matter Experts should provide validation information, if possible

32. After all of the cutoff scores are set, click on the “Save” and then the “Close” buttons
If you wish to exit without saving any changes, just click on the “Close” button

33. Using Cutoff Scores and Printing Candidate Score Reports with Pass or Fail Status Indicated

34. Click here
To print a Candidate Score Report showing test takers Pass or Fail status, click on the “Candidate Score Report” link on the C4 Administrator’s Screen

35.  
First, select the candidate(s) whose Candidate Score Report you wish to print by clicking on the check box by their names
Hint: You can limit the candidates who appear on this screen by creating “filters” in the area provided (see above).
After filtering, click on the “Update List” button to apply the filter. (See CritiCall Manual for more details)

36.   
To create a report that indicates whether a person passes or fails an AutoTest Code you have set cutoff scores for, check () the “Pass/Fail Report” option on the Candidate Score Report dialogue box before printing the report

37. The dialogue box shown here will appear on the screen even if you have used the Validation Wizard for this AutoTest Code. It is merely an advisory message reminding users that they must set the cutoff scores before they will accurately appear on the Pass/Fail version of the Candidate Score Report.

38. This is what the Pass/Fail Candidate Score Report looks like
IMPORTANT! Check the AutoTest Code name here to make sure this is the AutoTest Code you wanted to score
If this is not the AutoTest Code you wanted to score, it may be beneficial to go back to the Candidate Score Report dialogue box and limit the test takers by filtering

39. This is what the Pass/Fail Candidate Score Report looks like
Test Taker’s score for each test
The tests in the Candidate Score Report are listed in the order in which they were administered to the test taker

40. This is what the Pass/Fail Candidate Score Report looks like
Candidates’ Pass/Fail status for each test
Cutoff scores you have set using the Set Cutoff Score feature

41. This is what the Pass/Fail Candidate Score Report looks like
Pass in this column means the test taker scored at or above the cutoff score set for each of the C4 test administered
Pass/Fail status for each test module and for the overall scores
Fail in this column means the test taker scored below the cutoff score set for a C4 test

42. This is what the Pass/Fail Candidate Score Report looks like
In this example the test taker failed the “Customer Service Interaction” test since they scored (61%), which is lower than the cutoff score (63%) that had been set

43. In our experience…
Many employers find it beneficial to consider only those candidates who have passed all of the required tests in the AutoTest Code
Those who fail one or more tests may have difficulties in those areas if hired
Those who fail one or more tests are more likely to need additional supervision and training if hired

44. Frequently Asked Question
Question: Can I change the cutoff scores for an AutoTest Code after they have been set and used to score some test takers?
Answer: Yes. You can change cutoff scores at any time.
However, every Candidate Score Report you print out reflects the most recently set cutoff scores, even if some of those candidates have been graded using previously set cutoff scores

45. If you need assistance or more information
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Sales – ext 150
Other Assistance – ext 151 Or
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Copyright © 2009 Biddle Consulting Group, Inc.