participants in the testing process and their roles

test authors and developers

they conceive, prepare and develop tests. they also find a way to disseminate their tests by publishing them either commercially or through professional publications such as books or periodicals

test publishers

they publish, market, and sell tests, thus controlling their distrubution

test reviewers

they prepare evaluative critiques of tests based on their technical and practical merits

test users

they select or decide to take a specific test off the shelf and use it for some purpose. they may also participate in other roles, for example as examiners or scorers

tests sponsors

institutional boards or government agencies who contract test developers or publishers for various testing services

test administrators or examiners

they administer the test either to one individual at at a time or to groups

test takers

they take the test by choice or necessity

test scorers

they tally the raw responses of the test taker and transform them into test score through objective or mechanical scoring or through the application of