Which materials are prohibited from being disclosed to the public, including the applicant concerned?

The correct answer encompasses all the options listed, indicating that ratings sheets, test items, and answer keys are prohibited from public disclosure, including to the applicants themselves. This restriction is in place to maintain the integrity of the examination process and prevent any potential unfair advantages in future assessments.

Rating sheets contain specific evaluations of candidates' performance and could lead to manipulation or bias if made public. Test items, or the actual questions used in the examination, are kept confidential to avoid compromising the validity of the exams; if the items were disclosed, it could enable applicants to prepare inappropriately for future testing situations. Similarly, answer keys provide the correct responses to the test questions, and making these available would completely undermine the testing process, as candidates could directly access the correct answers rather than demonstrating their knowledge and skills through the assessment.

Overall, maintaining the confidentiality of these materials is crucial for upholding fair testing practices and ensuring that the qualifications being assessed remain credible and respected.