Abstract: Four equating methods in common-item non-equivalent group design based on the classical test theory were compared.The research data was selected from the TIMSS1999 database.Both the equating Standard Error and a cross-validation analysis were used as the evaluation criteria.And the CIPE program was used to compute the data.We came to a conclusion that,in our research situation,the linear equating procedures were superior to the equipercentile method. Of the linear equating methods,the Tucker linear method was better than the Levine Observed Score equating method, and the Braun-Holland linear method was not appropriate.The Frequency Estimation equipercentile method was with large equating error,and should not be used.

Key words: test equating, classical test theory, common-item design