Test Question examples Use with the handout “test question format options”

Multiple Choice Example A: Which of the following are the raw materials for photosynthesis? a. water, heat, sunlight b. carbon dioxide, sunlight, oxygen c. water, carbon dioxide, sunlight d. sunlight, oxygen, carbohydrates e. water, carbon dioxide, carbohydrates Desirable Traits: Straightforward question. It is not a “not” question! Makes reading difficult, tricky. The choices (a-e) are reasonable options Undesirable Traits: Could the format of choices (a-e) be better? Can students write on the test to cross off wrong answers?

Multiple Choice Example B: Mitochondria are called the powerhouses of the cell because they make energy available for cellular metabolism. Which of the following observations is most cogent in supporting this concept of mitochondrial function? a. ATP occurs in the mitochondria. b. Mitochondria have a double membrane c. The enzymes of the Krebs cycle and molecules required for terminal respiration are found in the mitochondria. d. Mitochondria are found in almost all kinds of plant and animal cells. e. Mitochondria abound in muscle tissue. Desirable Traits: Analysis question Uses a statement before the question to help understand the question Undesirable Traits: Choice “c” is significantly longer than the other ones. If it is the correct answer, then some student may be more likely to guess that one. Try to keep the choices similar in length and format.

True/False Example C: The second principle of education is that the individual gathers knowledge. Desirable Traits: ? Undesirable Traits: It is testing whether the student knows if “individual gathers knowledge” is the second principle. Is it even a principle and do we really need to know order? If so, then a matching question giving the student all the principles and then having them put them in order is a more appropriate choice. Whose second principle? Rewrite: According to Jim Dewey, a principle of education is that the individual gathers knowledge.

True/False Example D: The Supreme Court is not composed of nine justices. Desirable Traits: ? Undesirable Traits: “Not” questions mean the test taker must be a good reader. If you must use a “not” emphasize it with underlining. Rewrite: The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices. (Or make this a multiple choice question.)

Matching Example E: Match the following in order to complete the sentences on the left. Igneous rocks are formed a. a hardness of 7. The formation of coal requires b. with crystalline rock. A geode is filled c. a metamorphic rock. Feldspar is classified as d. heat and pressure e. through the solid-ification of molten lava. Desirable Traits: One more choice on the right then the left. Undesirable Traits: No continuity of the columns. Should be all types of rocks matching to hardness or formation. Can guess the answers based on sentence clues.

Fill in the blank Example F: The Constitutional Convention met in ____ in ____. Undesirable Traits: There are many options that make sense. What is the teacher looking for? Rewrite: The Constitutional Convention met in the city of _____ in the year ______. ____ is the measure of central tendency that is most affected by extremely high or low scores. ___ in the beginning makes reading difficult. Rewrite: The measure of central tendency most affected by extremely high or low scores is the ______________.