This document discusses developing assessment instruments for competency-based assessments. It defines criterion-referenced tests which measure student performance against predetermined criteria, such as pretests and posttests. Various assessment item types are described like essays, fill-in-the-blank, matching, multiple choice, and document-based questions. Guidelines for developing effective test items emphasize focusing on the assessment, learner, context, and goals. A five-step model for creating assessment instruments is outlined involving identifying elements to evaluate, paraphrasing them, sequencing, selecting evaluator judgements, and determining scoring.