Written by Liberty Munson of Microsoft with review from members of the ITCC DE&I Workgroup
Are you an item writer for IT certification exams, assessments, or similar validation activities? If so, the IT Certification Council’s (ITCC) DEI workgroup has produced a valuable resource for you: Guidance on Inclusive Item Writing for IT Certifications. I’m super excited about this new resource because improving the accessibility and inclusivity of our certification and credentialing experiences is near and dear to my heart.
The goal of this document is to help item writers take diversity and inclusion into consideration as they create exam and assessment content. Inclusive item writing helps ensure that the wording and structure of the questions is accessible to as many people as possible. By doing this, we are ensuring that the exam measures only the relevant skills, abilities, or traits that it is designed to measure. This, in turn, ensures that the assessment is fair, valid, and meaningful, regardless of their individual differences.
The document provides general principles on item writing, such as using simple language and ensuring content and context is neutral, as well as specific guidance for individual differences, such as visual and auditory impairments, cognition/neurodiversity requirements, and non-local speakers. We have also provided a list of further resources for those interested in learning more.
Although the document is focused on IT certification exams, the guidance is applicable to any assessment program. I encourage all item writers to take advantage of this valuable resource and incorporate its principles into their work. Together, we can create more inclusive and fair exams for all candidates.
