Assessment and the Institutional Environment Context Institutiona l Mission vision and values Intended learning and Educational Experiences Impact Educational and Institutional Effectiveness Use of Result Evaluation Methods → →

Multiple Choices Question MCQ

Objectives Explain the features of multiple choice questions (MCQs) Explore the advantages and disadvantages of multiple choice assessments Provide guidance on planning MCQ tests and tips for writing MCQ questions Give examples of MCQs with suggestions for improvement

Parts of MCQs Stem Options Key Distractors

strengths of MCQ tests They test a wide range of issues in a short time. Can be used to give quick feedback on student performance Assessment is not affected by a student's ability to write. They can be reliably marked as all answers are predetermined. They can be quickly marked by computer. Computer marking gives easy access to an item analysis A large bank of questions can be built up to reduce future preparation time. They can be used for quick revision at the start or end of a class and marked by the students. Can test higher cognitive skills, with careful writing

weaknesses of MCQ tests They do not test the student's ability to develop and organize ideas It takes a long time to write plausible distractors - especially in cases where higher order cognitive skills are being tested. Restrictions are placed on the student's answers as they must select from your alternatives. Guessing may result (but plausible distracters will result in intelligent guessing). Questions are often re-used which means attention to security. Questions need to be pre-tested and items reviewed to ensure the validity of the items.

Useful Tips The item must measure one important goal The stem or question should be worded simply. The stem or question should involve one issue only. The answer to one question should not be obtainable from another question. The distracters should be brief and as homogeneous as possible. Use “All of the above” & “None of the above” sparingly Questions should be limited to 50 words or three lines of text

Useful Tips The distractors should be plausible ie common errors made by students. Avoid distractors that provide clues eg. phrases from text books. Avoid using a pattern for the position of the correct response.

Useful Tips Avoid negative statements in the stem Avoid double negatives Not include the phrase “ What do you think …” because any answer will have to be considered correct

Scoring and Analysis of MCQ Tests Computer marking of MCQ tests is available. The analysis shows: individual students' total scores the class distribution of scores the performance of individual test items to allow informed modifications to the test if necessary

–Multiple - choice tests – True - false tests – Matching tests

MCQ They test a wide range of issues in a short time. True - false Can not be used to give quick feedback on student performance True - false assessment is affected by a student's ability to write. True - false They can be reliably marked as all answers are predetermined. True - false They can be quickly marked by computer. True - false

كدام يك از علائم زير مشخصة استئوپروز هستند؟ براي هر پاسخ « ص » يا « غ » را انتخاب كنيد. الف ) اجسام مهره اي كلاپس شده ص غ نمي دانم ب ) نواحي Looser برجسته ص غ نمي دانم ج ) فقدان ترابكولاهاي استخوان ص غ نمي دانم د ) كاهش غلظت Ca سرم ص غ نمي دانم ه ) ضعف ماهيچه اي Proximal ص غ نمي دانم بيماري هاي متابوليك استخوان

Diagnostic Non- Judgmental Evaluative Administrative Private Specific Suggestive Final Holistic Formative assessment Summative assessment