Writing Test Questions Elizabeth Morgan TA Orientation August 16, 2010 emorgan@boisestate.edu

Session Goals The purpose of tests Guidelines for writing multiple choice questions Writing challenging multiple choice questions Thinking about writing and grading essay questions

The purpose of tests An assessment of student learning The goal of testing is to figure out what students know or can do A test can be also be a formative or summative evaluation It is NOT about tricking students

Guidelines for writing MC questions Which of the following research methods is most helpful for revealing cause-effect relationships? A. A survey B. An experiment C. Correlational research D. A naturalistic observation Stem Distractor Answer Alternatives Distractor Distractor Writing good questions is tricky & takes time Draw on your own experience! Research shows certain types of questions are better at assessing student learning Take a minute to share with group about questions you think suck – too easy or annoying.

Writing challenging MC questions Most MC questions assess recognition of facts Better MC questions assess both Lower and Higher order thinking skills Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Lower order Higher order

Apply what you’ve learned Take 10 minutes to read the “text”. Then write at least one lower order and one higher order MC test question and answer based on your reading. Share with tablemates Evaluate the questions as a group based on the guidelines Assess whether is actually measures the type of thinking skill the author intended

Writing & grading essay questions Select an appropriate topic Anticipate the time allotted & desired length Be aware of how many “points” it is worth Consider how it can be graded reliably Be clear and specific Again, draw on your experience!

Questions? Follow the directions your instructor gives you When in doubt, ask your instructor for help and/or feedback