CAS to Introduce New Item Types into Credentialing Examinations
As previously announced with the CAS Admissions Transformation Plan, the CAS will be testing based on the new Content Outlines for Exams MAS-I, MAS-II, and 5 beginning this October/November 2023. With this transition, new item types will be introduced into the October/November 2023 exams. Previously, Exams MAS-I and MAS-II contained multiple choice, single response question types and Exam 5 contained constructed response and spreadsheet question types. These three exams will still continue to use these item types, but with some new additions. With the implementation of new item types, content on the exams can be tested in a format that best suits the material, offering candidates a better test-taking experience.
Table of item types:
| Exam | Item Types (beginning in October/November 2023) |
| MAS-I |
|
| MAS-II |
|
| 5 |
|
Definitions of these new exam item types:
- Multiple choice, multiple selection: Multiple answer choices with more than one correct answer(s).
- Point and Click: The item is in the form of an image with hidden hotspot areas. The candidate must identify the correct areas by clicking on the correct locations on the image.
- Fill in the Blank: Fill in the Blank type items have one or more blanks in the stem, which the candidate must fill with the correct value.
- Matching: Matching type items allow the pairing of items (textual content) defined in a graphical interface consisting of matching one component of the question to another component.
The CAS will be publishing a new sample exam in the Pearson VUE software for candidates to practice the functionality of these new item types. This published sample exam will be available by the end of the week on the Pearson VUE website and will include all item types listed above from exams MAS-I, MAS-II, and 5.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the new item types, please reach out to casatp@casact.org.
