Constructing Multiple Choice Tests

 Multiple Choice Tests

• Each item in a multiple choice test consists of two parts:

1. The stem
2. The options

• Distracters are chosen in such a way that they are attractive to those who do not know the answer 

Rules in Constructing Multiple Choice Tests

1. Do not use unfamiliar words, terms and phrases. The ability of the item to discriminate or its level of difficulty should stem from the subject matter rather than from the wording of the question.

Example:

• In what year did Jose Rizal meet his demise?
• Rules in Constructing Multiple Choice Tests

2. Do not use modifiers that are vague and whose meanings can differ from one person to the next such as much, often, usually etc.

Example:

• Much of Muslim-Filipino men are polygamous.
• Rules in Constructing Multiple Choice Tests

3. Avoid complex or awkward word arrangements. Avoid use of negatives in the stem as this may add unnecessary comprehension difficulties.

Example:

• As President of the Republic of the Philippines, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino would stand next to which President of the Philippine Republic subsequent to the 1986 EDSA Revolution?

4. Do not use negative or double negatives such as such statements tend to be confusing.

Example:

• What does the statement, “Developmental patterns acquired during formative years are not unchangeable” imply?

5. Each item should be as short as possible; otherwise, you risk testing more for reading and comprehension skills

6. Distracters should be equally plausible and attractive

Example:

The short story “May Day’s Eve” was written by which Filipino author?

1. Genoveva Edrosa Matute
2. Nick Joaquin
3. Edgar Allan Poe
4. Robert Frost

7. All multiple choice options should be grammatically consistent with the stem

Example:

Immigration will most likely,

1. Increases the population
2. Improved economy
3. Alleviate poverty
4. Stopping of crimes

8. The length, explicitness or degree of technicality of alternatives should not be determinants of the correctness of answer

Example:

If the three angles of two triangles are congruent, then the triangles are:

1. Congruent whenever one of the sides of the triangles are congruent
2. Similar
3. Equiangular and therefore must also be congruent
4. Equilateral if they are equiangular

9. Avoid stems that reveal the answer to another stem.

10. Avoid alternatives that are synonymous with others or those that include or overlap others

Example

What causes ice to transform from solid state to liquid state?

1. Change in temperature
2. Change in pressure
3. Change in chemical composition
4. Change in heat levels

11. Avoid presenting sequenced items in the same order as in the text or reference material.

12. Use the none of the above option only when the keyed answer is totally correct. When choice of the best response is intended, none of the above is not appropriate since the implication has already been made that the correct response may be partially inaccurate

13. Note that the use of “all of above” may allow credit for partial knowledge.