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TD Magazine Article

Seven Tips for Writing Good Multiple-Choice Questions

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Thu Nov 08 2012

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Seven Tips for Writing Good Multiple-Choice Questions-6b484b765adae179bbbcb56ae9d1498bab6f29e12554d481be92cd3f01d0c9a4

One of the ways learning objectives can be measured is through a knowledge-based or written test.

"Although true-false tests are the easiest to construct, they provide that old 50 percent guessing opportunity, thus not truly testing against the objectives," writes Toni DeTuncq, president of THD & Company, in the November Infoline, "Demystifying Measurement and Evaluation."

Yet multiple-choice tests are more difficult and time consuming to construct. Here are seven tips to help you develop effective multiple-choice questions.

  • When possible, state the stem as a direct question rather than as an incomplete statement.

  • Make sure alternatives are mutually exclusive.

  • Present choices in some logical order, for example chronological, most to least, or alphabetical.

  • Create one correct or best response for each item.

  • Strive for at least four alternatives for each item to lower the chance of the test-taker guessing the correct answer.

  • Avoid answers to one item that may help test-takers figure out the correct answer to another item.

  • Avoid the use of "All of the above."

These tips were adapted from the November 2012 Infoline, "Demystifying Measurement and Evaluation," available at www.astd.org/infoline.

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