Multiple choice questions are probably the most commonly used of all question types. They are easy to grade and lend themselves to computer delivery. However, if they are not well written, they can give away the answer or contain ambiguous or difficult wording so learners can misunderstand.
Guidelines for Writing Effective Multiple Choice Questions
Well written multiple choice questions have these characteristics:
Wording in the stem is clear and unambiguous.
If the wording of the stem allows for more than one correct answer, and does not indicate that multiple answers are acceptable, the question is likely to be difficult to answer correctly.
For example:
A trash can fire is:
a.class A b.water controlled c.preventable d.a hazard Any of the answers could be true. More information is required in the stem to limit the possibilities for correct answers or to indicate that multiple answers are acceptable.
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•If a negative is used in the stem or in the choices, it is highlighted for emphasis.
Avoid repetitive phrases in the choices.
If the same words are part of every alternative, make them part of the stem.
For example:
What is the proper working angle for straight ladders?
a.25 degrees from the horizontal b.50 degrees from the horizontal c.75 degrees from the horizontal d.90 degrees from the horizontal This question would be much better if the words "degrees from the horizontal" were included in the stem and the choices were just the numbers
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All choices are grammatically consistent with the stem.
If your stem and one or more of the alternatives are not grammatically consistent, the number of actual alternatives is reduced.
For example:
A dose equivalent unit is a:
a.rem or millirem (correct) b.rad or millirad c.roentgen or milliroentgen d.alpha or millialpha The choice d. alpha would not seem correct since "a" and "alpha" are not grammatically consistent. The astute learner would likely rule out choice d on that basis.
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•Each choice forms a plausible completion of the stem.
•All choices have similar grammatical structure and are of the same approximate length.
•Choices are not synonyms of one another. Opposites are used with caution.
•Choices such as "all of the above," or "a and b above" are avoided.
This example does NOT follow all of the guidelines:
The fission process involves the ____________ of atoms by a neutron.
a.burning b.splitting (correct) c.chemical bonding d.radiation One of the choices, d. radiation, is not plausible. The same choice is not of a similar grammatical structure.
Improved according to the guidelines:
The fission process involves the ____________ of atoms by a neutron.
a.burning b.splitting (correct) c.chemical bonding d.controlling |
