How are the difficulty levels of passages in the test determined?

The difficulty levels of passages in the test are determined primarily by analyzing the complexity of the language used, the sophistication of the concepts, and the depth of themes presented within the text. This method ensures that the passages challenge the reader’s comprehension skills appropriately by requiring the understanding of intricate vocabulary, abstract ideas, and nuanced themes. Length alone does not dictate difficulty, as a short passage can be quite complex, while a long passage may be straightforward. Additionally, the number of questions following a passage does not inherently reflect its difficulty; the questions may vary in complexity regardless of the passage's length or content. Lastly, while student feedback can provide insights into perceived difficulty, it is the intrinsic characteristics of the text itself that fundamentally shape its level of challenge.