BETTER BUILDINGLearning how to build better tests

What’s wrong?

• Too many questions

• Only assess knowledge (remembering)

• Don’t clearly relate to what was taught

• Ambiguous or unclear

• Don’t provide an adequate sample of the body of

content

Plan

• Relate to outcomes

• Relate to level / scope of learning

• Develop an assessment plan

• Identify content topics

• Map to Learning Outcomes

• Identify levels of learning

• Identify number of tests

• Identify when

Select

• Type of test

• Multiple choice, true/false, matching, OR essay

• What is being measured?

• Match test type to learning outcome / level of learning

• Delivery mode / timing

• Paper-based or online

• Short- or long- time allowed

• Open book or closed

Evaluate

Essays – Strengths

• Measure higher level objectives

• Less time-consuming to build

• Allow students to demonstrate understanding of complex ideas

• Provide a more authentic assessment

Evaluate

Essays – Weaknesses

• More time to mark

• Challenging to score objectively

• Research indicates bias is often an issue

Evaluate

Multiple Choice – Strengths

• Versatile – measure various levels of learning

• Allows for wide sampling of content / objectives

• Highly reliable test scores

• Machine scoring possible

• Re-use possible

Evaluate

Multiple Choice – Weaknesses

• Difficult to write questions to clearly address different levels of learning

• Time-consuming

• Students require “test literacy”

• Tendency to develop “easy” questions

• May encourage guessing

Get Help

http://www.indiana.edu/~best/write_better_tests.shtml