As an online competency-based university, Western Governors University (WGU) requires that students demonstrate competence in given content areas through a series of assessments. WGU employs a number of assessment techniques, including objective assessments, performance assessments, portfolios, capstones, and observations. Unlike most academic institutions, however, WGU does not offer courses in the traditional sense. Students are expected to master competences through independent study, exploration, and collaboration. There is no instructor imparting knowledge throughout the course or available during the test to answer questions or clarify meaning. While this model allows students a great deal of flexibility in how they acquire competence, it also requires that test questions be approachable by students regardless of how they acquired their competence. WGU employs a highly collaborative approach to test question development, drawing on a wide range of perspectives in order to ensure a successful interaction between student and content.