Safa mohammed abdulridah dhyaaldian - University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq
Sura Hasan Al-Zubaidi - Anesthesia Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq
Dhameer A. Mutlak - Al-Nisour University College/Baghdad/Iraq
Nour Raheem Neamah - Al-Manara College For Medical Sciences (maysan)/Iraq
ALI A. MOHAMMED ALI ALBEER - Department of Pharmacy, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq
Doaa A. Hamad - Nursing Department, Hilla University College, Babylon, Iraq.
Saad Fadhil Al Hasani - Al-Esraa University College, Baghdad, Iraq
Mustafa Musa Jaber - ۸a Department of Medical instruments engineering techniques, Dijlah University College, Baghdad,۱۰۰۲۱, Iraq ۸b Department of Medical instruments engineering techniques, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad,۱۰۰۲۱, Iraq
Hatem Ghaleb Maabreh - People’s friendship university of Russia,Moscow,Russia.

Cloze tests are gap-filling tests designed to measure overall language ability and reading comprehension in a second language. Due to their ease of construction and scoring, cloze tests are widely used in the context of second and foreign language testing. Previous research over the past decades has shown the reliability and validity of cloze tests in different contexts. However, due to the interdependent structure of cloze test items, item response theory models have not been applied to analyze cloze tests. In this research, we apply a method to circumvent the problem of local dependence for analyzing cloze tests with the Rasch model. Using this method, we applied the Rasch model to a cloze test composed of eight passages each containing ۸-۱۵ gaps. Findings showed that the Rasch model fits the data and thus it is possible to scale persons and cloze passages on an interval unidimensional scale. The test had a high reliability and was well-targeted to the examinees. Implications of the study are discussed.

cloze test, Local item dependence, Rasch model, Unidimensionality, Validity