| Date: |
3 Mar-24 Mar 2026 (Scheduled) |
Venue: |
Online
|
| Time: |
12:30 - 14:00
|
| Type: |
Online workshop series: Scheduled |
Fee: |
£325
(10% discount available for members) |
| Duration: |
6 hours (4x 90 min sessions) |
Credits: |
6 CPD accredited hours |
Book now
Bookings close 2 Mar 2026 at 11am (UK time)
Item Response Theory (IRT) can help you to analyse the performance of your questions across different ability levels, making your tests more valid and effective. Learn the basic concepts behind this popular psychometric approach to modelling response data from your assessments.
Why choose this workshop?
Item Response Theory (IRT) is a statistical model that uses assessment data to understand how people respond to questions and to check how well each question measures different levels of ability.
Our expert trainer, Alejandra Miranda, will guide you through this interactive series of live workshops that will introduce you to the basic concepts behind IRT, providing clear examples of when this model can be useful.
In these live workshops you’ll explore empirical methods of assessing item quality and data driven approaches to test assembly. You’ll have the opportunity to put your learning into practice with activities on reviewing outputs from IRT models and developing your understanding of how to interpret the results.
IRT is important for anyone working with assessments because it helps make tests more valid, fair, and reliable by analysing item difficulty, quality, and how questions perform across different ability levels. It addresses issues like unequal item difficulty, poor item discrimination, and score comparability across tests, while supporting adaptive testing and better decision-making.
Who should attend?
If you have little or no knowledge of item response theory, this workshop series will provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice. Or, if you’re more experienced and looking to refresh your knowledge, this series will increase your understanding and boost confidence in your practice.
Please note, to get the most from these workshops you should have some existing familiarity with classical item statistics (for example, facilities and discriminations).
The session is open to anyone who would find it useful. Previous attendees have included:
- Assessment and Qualification Managers
- Assessment Leads
- Teachers
- Researchers and Psychometricians
- Data Analysts
Why choose The Assessment Network?
We’re trusted by over 1,000 organisations across 100 countries and are backed by world-class research from the University of Cambridge.
We proudly hold Dual Accreditation by the Professional Development Consortium, officially recognising us as a Provider of Training Excellence.
Upon successful completion of Item response theory in practice, you’ll be awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Cambridge University Press & Assessment as recognition of your learning.
Workshop outline
This workshop series is accredited with a Certificate of Attendance for continuing professional development (6 CPD hours). To be eligible, three live sessions must be attended.
Over four weeks we’ll discuss the different IRT models available and the situations in which they may have advantages over simpler classical methods of analysing item-level data.
Workshop 1: 03 Mar 2026 | Why use IRT and what does it do?
03 Mar 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Covering the purposes of IRT, where it can be useful and how results can be interpreted.
Workshop 2: 10 Mar 2026 | Calibration and interpretation of IRT models
10 Mar 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Learn how to calibrate items taken by different sets of candidates onto a common difficulty scale.
Workshop 3: 17 Mar 2026 | IRT to control and compare test difficulty
17 Mar 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Explore how IRT can be used to assess overall test difficulty and can be used in test equating.
Workshop 4: 24 Mar 2026 | Test construction and computer adaptive tests
24 Mar 2025 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Explore how IRT can help facilitate automated test assembly including the use of computer adaptive tests.
By the end of the workshop series, you’ll have had an opportunity to review outputs from IRT models and developed an understanding of how to interpret results. You’ll take away resources to support you in applying the learning to your own context and developing your future assessment practice.
What our attendees say
The meticulously crafted course content provided a comprehensive understanding of IRT and its applications in assessment. This course was truly exceptional and exceeded my expectations in every way."
The in-depth knowledge and practical insights the expert trainer shared were invaluable. His expertise and ability to explain complex concepts with clarity made the course accessible to participants with varied levels of prior knowledge."
I recommend this course to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of assessment methodologies. The knowledge and skills I gained have already significantly impacted my work, and I am confident they will continue to shape my career in assessment."
Aishwarya Jaiswal, Senior Research Analyst, India
Key learning outcomes
By the end of the four sessions you’ll have:
- Explained the advantages of using IRT in assessment design and delivery
- Understood the different types of IRT models and how they can be used
- Interpreted IRT graphs and statistics to inform your professional decisions
- Understood how IRT can support test construction (e.g. item banking and computer adaptive testing).
Workshop trainer
Alejandra Miranda is a researcher specialising in educational measurement and assessment. Her expertise includes test development, psychometric methods, and statistical analyses relevant to educational research. Her interests focus on advancing practices in educational measurement and test development to promote fairness, with an emphasis on integrating culturally responsive features into assessments.
Alejandra holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology with a focus on Quantitative Methods in Education at the University of Minnesota.
FAQs
What is item response theory?
Why train with The Assessment Network?
The Assessment Network at Cambridge is a global community of assessment professionals, committed to equipping practitioners with a clear understanding of core assessment principles and practices. Through accredited training, professional membership, and career development opportunities, we support individuals and organisations in becoming recognised, up-to-date assessment leaders.
We enable positive change by helping practitioners enhance the impact of assessment for learners, offering CPD courses, bespoke solutions, and professional recognition for every challenge and role. Trusted by over 1,000 organisations across 100 countries, and backed by world-class research from the University of Cambridge, we unite professionals who connect, share learning, and stand out as experts in their field.
How much does it cost?
Item response theory in practice costs £325 or you can receive a 10% discount on your booking as a Member.
I want to register my team, what’s the best way to do this?
If you’re looking to book five or more places on an upcoming workshop or workshop series, you can receive a group discount. Please get in touch for a quote.
How do I register?
If this workshop is currently available use the Book Now button to complete your registration on our booking platform. If the workshop is not available, you can register your interest.
How will I learn?
Live workshops are interactive, practical sessions offered online, either as standalone sessions or as part of a series.
Led by assessment experts, these sessions require live attendance, via our online learning site, providing opportunities for direct guidance and real-time answers to your questions. These practical explorations and discussions with your assessment peers will help transform your assessment practice.
Will I be able to discuss the workshop topic during the session?
You can engage regularly throughout the online workshops via chat boxes, breakout rooms, polls, and quizzes.
What level of English do I need to be able to complete the course?
The course is delivered in English so you are required to have sufficient competence in English to participate in the training. You should have English language competence comparable to Level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We recommend a minimum requirement of 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System. Further information may be obtained through the IELTS website.
My place on the workshop is now confirmed, what happens next?
Once you’ve completed your booking you’ll receive a confirmation email. Joining instructions for the workshop or series are normally sent after the booking deadline has passed.
What happens if I can't attend one of the sessions?
To receive certification for a workshop series, you can only miss one session.
You’ll be able watch a recording of this missed session, but please note breakout rooms will not be recorded, and attendance is strongly recommended whenever possible.
What kind of certification is available upon completion of the workshop?
You’ll be awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It is expected that participants will attend at least three out of four live sessions to be eligible for a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the series.
How many CPD learning hours is this accredited for?
This workshop series is accredited for 6 learning hours. You must meet the attendance requirements to be eligible to receive the learning hours.
The Assessment Network has been awarded Dual Accreditation by the Professional Development Consortium, meaning we are officially recognised as a Provider of Training Excellence, alongside being a trusted provider of fully CPD accredited assessment training activities.
The majority of our professional development courses are also CPD accredited. Accredited courses are clearly marked with the CPD hours available, and a full list can be found on the CPD Standards website.
Some newer workshops and courses may not yet be accredited by the CPD Standards Office. However, as an assured provider of training excellence, all our workshops meet the same rigorous standards as our accredited training.
What can I do with my learning hours?
At The Assessment Network, learning hours from completing professional development courses contribute directly toward earning awards that recognise your assessment expertise. There are two levels of awards, the Assessment Practitioner Award and the Advanced Assessment Practitioner Award.
How long will I have access to the recording/resources after the workshop ends?
Recordings, slides, and any extra resources will be available via the online learning site for 40 days for a standalone workshop or 90 days for a workshop series.
When is the next workshop running?
We aim to run our workshops at least once a year. If the workshop is not currently available to book, please use the register your interest page.