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Lesson 3: Tips On Test Construction

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Use negatively stated stems sparingly and when using negatives such as not, underline or bold the print.
  2. Use none of the above and all of the above sparingly, and when you do use them, don't always make them the right answer.
  3. Only one option should be correct or clearly best.
  4. All options should be homogenous and nearly equal in length.
  5. The stem (question) should contain only one main idea.
  6. Keep all options either singular or plural.
  7. Have four or five responses per stem (question).
  8. When using incomplete statements, place the blank space at the end of the stem versus the beginning.
  9. When possible, organize the responses.
  10. Reduce wordiness.
  11. When writing distracters, think of incorrect responses that students might make.

Short Answer and Essay Questions

  1. Clearly explain what is expected of the student.
  2. Indicate the number of points each essay question is worth.
  3. If you are giving students a choice as to what essay questions they can answer, avoid giving them too many choices and make points equal for each question.

Completion (Fill-in-the-Blank) Questions

  1. The blank should be in the middle, versus the end or beginning of the question so that the student can get as many contextual cues as possible.
  2. If at all possible, write completion items that can be answered with a single word.
  3. Make all blanks the same length so that the blanks do not provide clues as to the length of the answer.

Matching

  1. Keep items homogenous.
  2. Keep everything on one page.
  3. Put dates in chronological order.
  4. To prevent process of elimination, use extra items.
  5. Include clear directions such as whether or not an item can be used more than once.

True and False

  1. Keep length of true and false items the same.
  2. Have a fairly equal number of true and false items.
  3. Do not use double negatives.
  4. As an alternative to the simple true false forms where the answer is either true or false, make the option true, false, or opinion.
  5. Include the statement "If this statement is false, what makes it false?"
  6. Items that use qualifiers such as seldom, usually, and often are usually true.
  7. Items that use qualifiers such as never, and always are usually false.

Other Tips On Test Construction

  1. Assess information based on what the material was stressed in class, not trivial information.
  2. Have students submit 1 or 2 test questions and give extra credit for appropriate questions. Have them write a question with a correct answer and source.
  3. Making tests cumulative, gives them an opportunity to integrate the material.
  4. To determine how much time the student will need to take the test use the following:
    • 30 seconds per true/false item
    • 60 seconds per multiple choice item
    • 120 seconds per short answer item
    • 10 - 15 minutes per essay question
    • 5 to 10 minutes for students to review their work
    • Or, allow triple the amount of time it takes you to complete the exam.
  5. Select items that at least 50 to 70% of the students can correctly answer, or are of average difficulty.
  6. In terms of test reliability, longer tests are considered more reliable than shorter tests.
  7. Be aware that many of the test banks and/or review books that contain test questions rarely assess higher levels of learning.

Test Layout Tips

  1. Include simple, succinct directions to include the following:
    • How to record answers if they are not to write on the exam.
    • Whether or not to show work on problems
    • The point value for different items.
    • Directions on how to use an answer sheet if provided.
  2. Assemble a professional-looking examination by
    • avoiding splitting a test item between two different pages.
    • leaving the appropriate amount of space for each item.
  3. Leave wide enough margins for your comments, points, etc.
  4. Group similar items together.
  5. If it is a large exam, it might be worthwhile to group items according to content as well.
  6. To build confidence, start with your easiest items in each section.

Lessons: Index, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, References

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