Multiple choice tests

What are they?

• hard copy or computer-based

• home-made or off-the-shelf

• self-standing or part of a broader type of assessment

• formative or summative

• can be a few questions to dozens

  Why use them in assessment?

• heavy workloads

• ‘objective’

• suit ‘shallow’ learners

• can cover a lot of syllabus

  Strengths

• quick, cheap and easy to administer

• rapd feedback

• personalised feedback

• useful data on teaching effectiveness

    Weaknesses

• shallow ‘facts’ rather than broader understanding

• difficult to compose

• off the shelf may not be appropriate

    Strategies

• try them out!

• use technology: OCR or CAA

• look at existing MCQs

• avoid overlap between questions

• allow students to practice

• monitor effectiveness

• use feedback opportunities as far as possible

• build a question bank, with colleagues if possible

Last updated 04 May 2000 15:52 by Perry Share

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