Multiple-choice Questions

Overview

Definition

A multiple-choice question consists of two parts. The first is a question or incomplete statement called the “stem.” Second are the choices that are possible answers to the questions or that complete the statement.

Characteristics of multiple-choice questions

• Can present problems involving reasoning and judgment
• Can check memory for facts
• Check recognition but not recall
• Scoring is objective rather than subjective.

Example - good

Which type of test do college admissions offices use most often in reviewing applications? (This is the Question stem.)

a. ETS

b. CAT      (These are the Choices, responses, alternatives)

c. IQ

d. SAT

Example - bad

Joan is a top-level gymnast on her college team and is amenorrheic. This means that she:

a. Has not yet experienced puberty.

b. Is much shorter than most girls her age.

c. Starves herself.

d. *Does not menstruate.

Main error: There is not necessarily a relationship between being a top-level gymnast and being amenorrheic.

Advantages of multiple-choice questions:

• Many kinds and types of subject matter and learning outcomes can be measured
• Item analysis can provide diagnostic information
• Easy to score

Disadvantages:

• Difficult to write higher order questions (i.e., procedural, metacognitive)
• Cannot test ability to organize and present knowledge

Special thanks to The Schreyer Institute for their contributions to these documents.