Techniques for Testing

Testing is an important part of every teaching and learning experience. We who teach English are generally expected to be accountable for the results of our instruction.

Multiple-Choice Items

A multiple-choice item presents a problem or question in the stem of the item and requires the examinee to select the best answer or option. The options consist of a most-correct answer and one or more distracters.

The major purpose of a multiple-choice item is to identify examinees that do not have complete command of the concept or principle involved. In order to accomplish this purpose, the foils or distracters must appear as reasonable as the correct answer to students who have not mastered the material. 

True / False Questions

Advantages:

• Can test large amounts of content
• Students can answer 3-4 questions per minute

Disadvantages:

• They are easy
• It is difficult to discriminate between students that know the material and students who don't
• Students have a 50-50 chance of getting the right answer by guessing
• Need a large number of items for high reliability

Tips for Writing Good True/False items:

• Avoid double negatives.
• Avoid long/complex sentences.
• Use specific determinants with caution: never, only, all, none, always, could, might, can, may, sometimes, generally, some, few.
• Use only one central idea in each item.
• Don't emphasize the trivial.
• Use exact quantitative language

Matching Format 

Types:

• Terms with definitions
• Phrases with other phrases
• Causes with effects
• Parts with larger units
• Problems with solutions

Advantages:

• Maximum coverage at knowledge level in a minimum amount of space/preptime
• Valuable in content areas that have a lot of facts

Disadvantages:

• Time consuming for students
• Not good for higher levels of learning

Tips for Writing Good Matching items:

• Need 15 items or less.
• Give good directions on basis for matching.
• Use items in response column more than once (reduces the effects of guessing).
• Use homogenous material in each exercise.
• Make all responses plausible.
• Put all items on a single page.
• Put response in some logical order (chronological, alphabetical, etc.).
• Responses should be short.

Short Answer

Advantages:

• Easy to construct
• Good for "who," what," where," "when" content
• Minimizes guessing
• Encourages more intensive study-student must know the answer vs. recognizing the answer.

Disadvantages:

• May overemphasize memorization of facts
• Take care - questions may have more than one correct answer
• Scoring is laborious

Tips for Writing Good Short Answer Items:

• When using with definitions: supply term, not the definition-for a better judge of student knowledge.
• For numbers, indicate the degree of precision/units expected.
• Use direct questions, not an incomplete statement.
• If you do use incomplete statements, don't use more than 2 blanks within an item.
• Arrange blanks to make scoring easy.
• Try to phrase question so there is only one answer possible.

For the student, testing is a good idea because this is an ideal opportunity to pause, take stock of the material studied over the recent period, and process it so that it is properly understood. In addition, there is always the satisfaction of passing the test and really feeling that you know something. And if you don't pass, there is the challenge of having to relearn the material and make sure that you do know it next time. Building self-esteem from one's successes and strengthening the character by dealing with one's failures are both important lessons in life that a child can take with them into adult life and forever.