Writing Objective Test Items

CHAPTER 6
Writing Objective Test

Items
OBJECTIVE TEST ITEMS INCLUDE:
True-False
 Matching
 Multiple choice
 Completion or Short Answer
WHICH FORMAT?
Consider the following objectives and item formats:
 OBJECTIVE 1: Given a story, a student can
recognize the meaning of all new words.
TEST ITEMS: Circle the letter that represents the
correct meaning of the following words.
 OBJECTIVE 2: The student can associate the
characteristics of leading characters with their
names.
TEST ITEM: The first column is a list of a names

of the main characters in Huckleberry Finn.
 OBEJECTIVES 3: The student can write a
plausible alternative ending to a story.
TEST ITEM: You have just to read the story

Huckleberry Finn. In 40 words, write a different
ending to the story that would be believable.
 OBJECTIVE 4: The student will recognize
whether certain events occurred.
TEST ITEM: Here is a list of incidents in

Huckleberry Finn. Circle T if it happened in the
story and F if it did not.
TRUE-FALSE ITEMS
True-false items are popular probably

because they are quick and easy to
write, or at least they seem to be.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
WRITING TRUE -FALSE
ITEMS
 The desired method of marking true or false should
be clearly explained before students begin the test.
 Construct statements that are definitely true or

definitely false, without additional qualifications.
 Use relatively short statements and eliminate
extraneous material.
Keep true and false statements at approximately the
same length and be sure that there are approximately
equal numbers of true and false items.
 Avoid using double-negative statements.
 Avoid the following:
a. Verbal clauses, absolutes, and complex sentences
b. broad general statements that are usually not true or false
without further qualifications
c. terms denoting infinite degree
d. Placing items in a systematic order
e. taking statements directly from the text and presenting
them out of context
MATCHING ITEMS
Like true or false items, matching items represent a

popular and convenient testing format. Just like
good true-false items, though, good matching items
are not as easy to write as you might think.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
WRITING MATCHING ITEMS
 Keep both list of description and the list of options fairly

short and homogeneous- they should both fit on the same page.
 Make sure that all the options are plausible distractors for each
description to ensure homogeneity of lists.
 The list of descriptions should contain the longer phrases or
statements, while the options should consist of short phrases,
words or symbols.
 Each description in the list should be numbered, and
the list of options should identified by letter.
 Include more options than descriptions.
In the directions, specify the basis for matching and

whether options can be used more than once.
MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS
Another popular item format is the multiple choice

questions. Practically everyone has taken multiple-
choice tests at one time or another, but probably
more often in high school and college than in
elementary.
HIGHER LEVEL MULTIPLE -
CHOICE QUESTIONS
Good multiple-choice items are the most time

consuming kind of objective test items to write.
Unfortunately, most multiple-choice items are also
written at the knowledge level of the Taxonomy of
Educational Objectives.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
WRITING MULTIPLE -
CHOICE ITEMS
 The stem of the item should clearly formulate a
problem.
 Be sure that there is one and only one correct or

clearly best answer.
 Be sure wrong answer choices are plausible.

 Use negative questions or statements only if the
knowledge being tested requires.
 Include from tree to five options to optimize testing
for knowledge rather than encouraging guessing.
 To increase the difficulty of a multiple-choice item,
increase the similarity of content among the options.
 Use the option “none of the above” sparingly and
only when the keyed answer can be classified
unequivocally as right or wrong.
 Avoid using “ all of the above” .

COMPLETION ITEMS
Like true-false items, completion items are relatively

easy to write. Perhaps the first test, classroom
teachers construct and students take are completion
tests.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
WRITING COMPLETION OR
SUPPLY ITEMS
 If at all possible, items should require a single-word
answer, or a brief and definite statement.
 Be sure the question or statement poses a problem to
the examinee.
 Be sure the answer that the student is required to
produce is factually correct.
 Omit only key words; don’t eliminate so many
elements that the sense of the content is impaired.
 Word the statement such that the blank is near the
end of the sentence rather than near the beginning.
 If the problem requires a numerical answer, indicate
the units in which it is to be expressed.
GENDER AND RACIAL BIAS
IN TEST ITEMS
One example of gender bias is the exclusive

use of the male pronoun he in the test items. Since
the item writer may use it sunconsciously, it does
not necessarily follow that the item writer has a
sexiest attitude.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING
TEST ITEMS
 Begin writing items far enough in advance that you will

have time to revise them.
 Match items to intended outcomes at the proper difficulty

level to provide a valid measure of instructional objectives.
 Be sure each items deals with an important aspect of

content area and not with trivia.
 Be sure that the problem posed is clear and unambiguous.
 Be sure that each item is independent of all other items.
 Be sure the item has one correct or best answer on which

experts would agree.
 Prevent unintended clues to the answer in the statement or

questions.
 Avoid replication of the textbook in writing test items;
don’t qoute directly from the textual materials.
 Avoid trick or catch questions in an achievement test.
 Try to write items that require higher level thinking.

EVALUATION
_______________1. Are popular because they are quick and easy to write or
at least they seem to be.
_______________2. Probably more often in high school and college than in
elementary.
_______________3. Represent a popular and convenient testing format.
_______________4. Are relatively easy to write.
ASSIGNMENT
Make some test items using different Formats.

 True-false items (10 items)
 Matching items (10items)
 Multiple Choice Items (10 items)
 Completion Items (10 items)
Prepared by
Hamdan, Rishell I.
Akip, Erika L.
Mohammad, Alnisa B.

Writing Objective Test Items

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Writing Objective Test Items

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Writing Objective Test Items

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHAPTER 6

Writing Objective Test

TEST ITEM: The first column is a list of a names

TEST ITEM: You have just to read the story

TEST ITEM: Here is a list of incidents in

True-false items are popular probably

 Construct statements that are definitely true or

Like true or false items, matching items represent a

 Keep both list of description and the list of options fairly

 Include more options than descriptions.

In the directions, specify the basis for matching and

Another popular item format is the multiple choice

Good multiple-choice items are the most time

 Be sure that there is one and only one correct or

 Be sure wrong answer choices are plausible.

 Avoid using “ all of the above” .

Like true-false items, completion items are relatively

One example of gender bias is the exclusive

 Begin writing items far enough in advance that you will

 Match items to intended outcomes at the proper difficulty

 Be sure each items deals with an important aspect of

 Be sure that each item is independent of all other items.

 Be sure the item has one correct or best answer on which

 Prevent unintended clues to the answer in the statement or

 Avoid trick or catch questions in an achievement test.

 Try to write items that require higher level thinking.

Make some test items using different Formats.

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.