How Do I Create Fair and Unbiased Tests?

"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we dive deep into the essential questions that drive us to be better educators. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re exploring a question that every teacher grapples with at some point: How do I create fair and unbiased tests?

Creating fair and unbiased tests isn’t just about writing questions and scoring answers. It’s about ensuring that the assessment reflects students' knowledge and skills in a way that is equitable and accessible to all learners. We’ve all had those moments when a student—bright and capable—doesn’t perform well on a test, and it leaves us wondering: Was it the student or was it the test?

Testing can often be high stakes for students, parents, and teachers alike. But our role as educators is to ensure that these assessments are not only accurate reflections of what students have learned but also constructed in a way that doesn’t unintentionally advantage or disadvantage any group of students. Today, we’ll be discussing how to design assessments that are valid, reliable, and fair, across elementary, middle, and high school levels. We’ll touch on everything from question format to language use, and we’ll explore how to account for the diversity of learning styles and backgrounds.

Show Notes

For more information on this topic checkout the following resources:

• Edutopia – Creating Fair and Equitable Assessments: www.edutopia.org
• The Cult of Pedagogy – Avoiding Bias in Testing: A guide to creating inclusive assessments.
• The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing: A detailed look at the principles of fair and valid assessments.
• Kahoot and Google Forms: Tools for real-time, low-stakes formative assessments.
• Rick Wormeli – Fair Isn’t Always Equal: A book on grading and differentiating assessments for diverse learners.

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Transcript

Don: 0:08

"Welcome to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we dive into the heart of education, helping teachers, parents, and students thrive. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and if you’re passionate about making a difference in education, you’ve come to the right place. Before we jump into today’s deep dive episode, I’d like to ask for your support. If you find value in these conversations, please take a moment to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your fellow educators and parents. Your support helps us reach more people, empowering more teachers and families to navigate the challenges of education with confidence and courage. So hit that subscribe button, share this episode, and let’s continue to grow this community together." Today, we’re exploring a question that every teacher grapples with at some point: How do I create fair and unbiased tests? Creating fair and unbiased tests isn’t just about writing questions and scoring answers. It’s about ensuring that the assessment reflects students' knowledge and skills in a way that is equitable and accessible to all learners. We’ve all had those moments when a student—bright and capable—doesn’t perform well on a test, and it leaves us wondering: Was it the student or was it the test? Testing can often be high stakes for students, parents, and teachers alike. But our role as educators is to ensure that these assessments are not only accurate reflections of what students have learned but also constructed in a way that doesn’t unintentionally advantage or disadvantage any group of students. Today, we’ll be discussing how to design assessments that are valid, reliable, and fair, across elementary, middle, and high school levels. We’ll touch on everything from question format to language use, and we’ll explore how to account for the diversity of learning styles and backgrounds. And for our parent listeners, stick around for a bonus segment where we’ll answer the question: How can I help my child prepare for tests in a way that reduces anxiety? Let’s jump right in." In our first segment we look at Understanding What Makes a Test Fair and Unbiased."Before we get into the details of how to create fair and unbiased tests, let’s first talk about what that means. A test is considered fair when it accurately reflects the material taught, and when all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. A test is unbiased when it avoids any language, content, or assumptions that might favor one group of students over another. The goal of any test should be to measure students' understanding of the content, not their background, cultural experiences, or test-taking skills. Unfortunately, biases can sneak into our tests in ways we may not even notice—whether it’s the wording of a question, the cultural context of a reading passage, or the assumption that all students learn the same way. To create fair and unbiased tests, we need to think deeply about how our assessments align with what we’ve taught and how they accommodate the diverse needs of our students. This includes considering the language we use, the format of the questions, and even the time given to complete the test. Let’s begin by examining what this looks like in the elementary classroom, where assessments are often the first formal experiences students have with testing.""In elementary school, assessments are often used to gauge students' understanding of foundational skills—whether it’s reading comprehension, basic math, or science concepts. But at this stage, students are also learning how to take tests. They’re still developing their test-taking strategies, which makes it crucial to ensure that our assessments are fair and appropriately challenging for young learners. One of the first steps in creating a fair test at the elementary level is ensuring that the questions directly reflect the content that has been taught. It may sound simple, but it’s surprisingly easy to accidentally include questions that go beyond what students have practiced. To avoid this, it’s helpful to use clear objectives as the foundation of your test. Each question should map back to a specific objective that you’ve covered in class. Another key factor is language. Young students are still building their vocabulary, and it’s important that the language used in the test doesn’t confuse or intimidate them. Avoid using overly complex words or phrasing that could trip students up. Instead, opt for straightforward, age-appropriate language that focuses on the content being tested. For example, if you’re testing math skills, make sure the question focuses on the math, not on understanding a complicated word problem. You’ll also want to consider the format of the test. Elementary students benefit from a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, short-answer, and matching. This gives them multiple ways to show what they know. But be mindful of test fatigue: younger students can tire quickly. Keep tests short and to the point, focusing on quality over quantity. And finally, don’t forget about visual learners. Incorporating diagrams, pictures, or charts can help students who struggle with text-heavy assessments. For example, in a science test, you might ask students to label parts of a plant using a diagram, rather than describing it in words. As we transition to middle school, the challenges shift slightly as students begin to engage with more complex material and varying learning styles.""Middle school is a critical period for students. They’re transitioning from learning basic skills to applying those skills in more complex ways. At this level, assessments start to carry more weight, and students begin to experience a wider variety of test formats—everything from essays to projects to standardized tests. The diversity of assessments can sometimes introduce unintentional biases if we’re not careful. One of the biggest challenges in middle school is ensuring that tests are differentiated for different learning styles. Some students excel with traditional multiple-choice or short-answer questions, while others might perform better with hands-on projects or oral presentations. The best way to create a fair assessment at this level is to offer choice when possible. For instance, allow students to demonstrate their understanding through a project, a presentation, or a traditional written test. By offering multiple ways for students to show what they know, you can ensure that each student has an opportunity to succeed in a format that suits their strengths. The language used in tests also becomes more nuanced in middle school. As students’ vocabulary expands, we may be tempted to use more complex wording in our tests. However, it’s important to remember that students are still developing their reading comprehension skills. If a question is testing science or math, for example, the wording should focus on those subjects rather than introducing unnecessary linguistic complexity. A fair test ensures that students are being assessed on the intended skills—not their ability to decode overly complicated instructions. Additionally, cultural bias can sneak into middle school tests, especially in subjects like language arts and social studies. Be mindful of the examples or scenarios you use in questions. Make sure they reflect a diversity of experiences and backgrounds. For example, instead of asking about a family trip to a cabin: something not all students may have experienced: you might use a more universally relatable situation, like describing a day at school. Middle school assessments should also start to incorporate self-assessment elements. Encourage students to reflect on their own learning and evaluate their performance on assessments. This not only promotes a growth mindset but also allows students to recognize areas where they may need additional support. Now, let’s move on to high school, where assessments become more specialized and the stakes are higher.""In high school, tests and assessments take on a new level of importance. Whether it’s preparing for college entrance exams, Advanced Placement tests, or simply mastering the content needed for graduation, the pressure to perform is palpable. At this level, it becomes even more essential to ensure that assessments are fair, transparent, and unbiased. One of the first considerations when creating a high school test is to ensure content validity—that is, the test should accurately measure what it’s intended to measure. In other words, if the test is covering a unit on Shakespeare, every question should be directly tied to the skills or knowledge taught during that unit. This ensures that students are not blindsided by questions that seem unrelated to the content they’ve been learning. High school tests should also account for diverse learning styles. Some students excel at traditional tests, while others may do better with projects, essays, or even presentations. Offering a variety of assessment types throughout the semester can help ensure that all students have opportunities to demonstrate their learning in ways that work best for them. It’s also important to be mindful of test anxiety at this level. High school students are often dealing with the pressure of college applications, extracurricular activities, and a growing workload. To mitigate test anxiety, be clear about the structure of the test ahead of time. Give students sample questions or practice exams so they know what to expect. And consider incorporating more low-stakes formative assessments leading up to the summative assessments. This helps build their confidence and gives you a clearer picture of their progress before the big test day. Another area to watch for bias is in cultural references and assumptions. For example, in a literature class, when asking students to interpret a text, be aware of cultural differences that might shape how students understand certain passages or themes. It’s important to avoid making assumptions about what students have been exposed to or how they’ll relate to the material. As a final point, high school assessments should incorporate opportunities for self-assessment and peer assessment. Encouraging students to reflect on their own work, and even assess their peers’ work, fosters a deeper understanding of the material and teaches valuable skills in critical thinking and evaluation."Now that we’ve explored how to create fair and unbiased tests across elementary, middle, and high school, let’s move into our bonus segment where we’ll answer a common parent question: How can I help my child prepare for tests without adding extra stress?""Parents often ask how they can support their children in preparing for tests without adding unnecessary pressure. Here’s the key: focus on consistent study habits and building confidence over time, rather than last-minute cramming. Encourage your child to review material regularly. Break down study sessions into small, manageable chunks, and make sure they’re reviewing content in a low-pressure environment. One of the most effective strategies is to practice retrieval—ask your child to explain what they’ve learned, either to you or to a study buddy, as this reinforces understanding. Another tip is to emphasize growth mindset language. Remind your child that tests are opportunities to see where they’re improving, and that it’s okay not to get everything right the first time. The goal is progress, not perfection." Todays episode takeaways."Creating fair and unbiased tests is a vital part of our responsibility as educators. It’s about more than just evaluating student knowledge—it’s about creating opportunities for all students to succeed. Whether we’re teaching elementary, middle, or high school, we have the power to design assessments that are equitable, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse learners in our classrooms. Thank you for joining us on today’s episode of Teaching with Valor. For more resources on creating fair and unbiased assessments, check out the links in our episode description. And remember—when we assess fairly, we’re not just testing knowledge; we’re creating pathways for learning and growth. Keep striving, keep reflecting, and as always, keep teaching with valor."