Multiple Choice Tests

• Multiple choice type of test offers the student with more than two (2) options per item to choose from.

• Each item in a multiple choice test consist of two parts

a.) the stem

b) the options

• In the set of the option, there is a “correct” or “best”.

• Distracters- are chosen in such a way that they are attractive to those who do not know the answer or are guessing but at the same time , are no appeal to those who actually know the answer.

• Features- allow the teacher to test higher order thinking skills of the students.

Rules in constructing multiple choice tests.

1) Do not use unfamiliar words, terms and phrases.

Ex. What would be the system reliability of a computer system whose slave and peripherals are connected in parallel circuits and each one has a known time to failure probability of 0.05

2) Do not use modifiers that are vague and whose meanings can differ from one person to the next such as much,often, usually etc.

Ex. Much of the process of photosynthesis takes place in the:

a) barkb) leafc) stem

3) Avoid complex or awkward word arrangements. Also, avoid use negatives in the stem as this may add unnecessary comprehension difficulties.

Ex. ( Poor) As President of the republic of the Philippines, Corazon

Cojuangco Aquino would stand next to which President of the Philippine Republic subsequent to the EDSA Revolution?

(Better)Who was the President of the Philippines after Corazon C.

Aquino?

4) Do not use negatives or double negatives as such statements tend to be confusing. It is best to use simpler sentences rather than sentences that would require expertise in grammatical construction.

Ex. ( Poor)

Which of the following will not cause inflation in the Philippine economy?

(Better)

Which of the following will cause inflation in the Philippine economy?

5) Each item stem should be as short as possible; other-wise you risk testing more for reading and comprehension skills.

6) Distracters should be equally plausible and attractive.

Example: The short story: May Day’s Eve, was written by

which Filipino author?

a) Jose Garcia Villa b) Nick Joaquinc) Genoveva Edrosa Matuted) Robert Froste) Edgar Allan Poe

7) All multiple choice options should be grammatically consistent with the stem.

8) The length, explicitness or degree of technicality of alternatives should not be the determinants of the correctness of the answer.

Ex. If the three angles of two triangles are congruent, then the triangles are:

a) congruent whenever one of the sides of the triangles are congruent.

b) similar

c) equiangular and therefore, must also be congruent

d) equilateral if they are equiangular

9) Avoid stems that reveal the answer to another item.

10) Avoid alternatives that are synonyms with others or those that, include or overlap others.

Ex. What causes ice to transform from solid state to liquid state?

a) Change in temperature

b) Changes in pressure

c) Change in the chemical composition

d) Change in heat levels