The answer may vary: large language model response patterns challenge their use in test item analysis

These findings suggest LLMs have limited utility in predicting MCQ performance metrics. Notably, higher-scoring models showed less correlation with human performance, suggesting that as models become more powerful, their ability to predict human performance may decrease. Understanding the consistency of an LLM's response pattern is critical for both research methodology and practical applications in test development. Future work should focus on leveraging the language-processing capabilities of LLMs for overall assessment optimization (e.g., inter-item correlation) rather than predicting item characteristics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Medical Teacher
Published
2025-05-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2025.2497891
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.65

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article

The answer may vary: large language model response patterns challenge their use in test item analysis

Lauren Buhl
1 citations
Medical Teacher
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
0.65
article

The answer may vary: large language model response patterns challenge their use in test item analysis

Lauren Buhl
article en
1 citations

Abstract

These findings suggest LLMs have limited utility in predicting MCQ performance metrics. Notably, higher-scoring models showed less correlation with human performance, suggesting that as models become more powerful, their ability to predict human performance may decrease. Understanding the consistency of an LLM's response pattern is critical for both research methodology and practical applications in test development. Future work should focus on leveraging the language-processing capabilities of LLMs for overall assessment optimization (e.g., inter-item correlation) rather than predicting item characteristics.

Medical TeacherVol. 47(11)
Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center (US)
Hitchcock Foundation
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
0.65
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