Enhancing Test Question Development with CLAIRE in ATI
Enhancing Test Question Development with CLAIRE in ATI
Amanda Smith
As a nursing educator, creating high-quality test items that accurately reflect course objectives and promote critical thinking is both a challenge and a responsibility.
The quality of assessments directly impacts how well students prepare for licensure exams like the NCLEX and how effectively they develop clinical reasoning. In this context, CLAIRE, the artificial intelligence tool within ATI’s testing platform used throughout the
nursing curriculum, has become a valuable support system for writing and refining test questions.
CLAIRE (Content Logic Artificial Intelligence Review Engine) is designed to assist educators in crafting valid, reliable, and NCLEX-aligned questions. It provides real-time feedback on question structure, cognitive level, alignment with the NCLEX Test Plan,
and item-writing best practices. Using CLAIRE allows faculty to confidently construct assessments that measure not just knowledge recall, but application and analysis—the higher-level thinking skills that today’s nursing students need.
When writing a new test item, I begin by drafting a question based on the specific learning outcomes or topic I want to assess. After entering it into CLAIRE, the system provides suggestions for improving the clarity of the stem, ensuring the distractors are
plausible, and confirming that the question is written at the intended cognitive level. For example, if I create a scenario-based question intended to assess application-level knowledge, CLAIRE may alert me if the wording is too vague or if the options are not sufficiently differentiated.
One of the most helpful features of CLAIRE is its alignment feedback.
It checks whether the item corresponds to the NCLEX blueprint categories, such as “Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies” or “Management of Care.” This ensures that the exams I develop reflect national standards and prepare students for licensure. CLAIRE also flags issues related to bias, ambiguity, or improper item formatting—helping me avoid common pitfalls in item writing.
Using CLAIRE has not only improved the quality of my test questions but has also been
a valuable professional development tool. Over time, I’ve become more confident in
writing NCLEX-style questions and have noticed that my students are performing better on standardized assessments. It has also sparked productive discussions in faculty meetings, as we use CLAIRE and ensure consistency across courses.
Additionally, CLAIRE supports fairness and accessibility in testing.
By pointing out potentially biased or culturally insensitive language, the tool helps me ensure that questions are inclusive and appropriate for a diverse student population. This aligns with the broader goals of nursing education to promote equity and cultural competence.
In conclusion, CLAIRE in ATI is more than just a tool for editing test items—it’s a partner
in academic excellence. It empowers faculty to write better questions, reduces guesswork in item development, and helps maintain alignment with NCLEX standards. For busy educators, especially those new to item writing or teaching in a second language, CLAIRE offers guidance that is immediate, intelligent, and impactful. As nursing education continues to evolve, tools like CLAIRE will play a vital role in supporting student success and strengthening assessment practices.