Designing Effective MCQs Mr Saqib Zamir Abdullah

A multiple choice question consists of

STEM - The Text of the question

OPTIONS - The Choices provided after the stem

KEY: The Correct Answer in the list of options

DISTRACTERS: The Incorrect Answers in the list of options

a. mirage

b. oasis

c. water hole

d. polder

Writing Stems

1

Polysaccharides

a. are made up of thousands of smaller units b. are NOT found in the aloe vera leafc. are created during photosynthesisd. can be described by the chemical formula: CHHOH

Weak Question

Polysaccharides of the plant cell wall are synthesized mainly in

a.the endoplasmic reticulum b.the cytosolc.the plasma membrane d.the Golgi complex

2

Avoid unnecessary and irrelevant material

3

Use

clear, straightforward language.

Questions that are constructed using complex wording may become a test of reading comprehension

4

Use Negatives Sparingly.

If negatives must be used, they should be CAPITALIZED, underscored

emboldened or

highlighted.

5

Put as much of the question in the stem as possible, rather than

duplicating material duplicating material in each of the options.

Theorists of pluralism have asserted which of the following?

a. The maintenance of democracy requires a large middle class.b. The maintenance of democracy requires autonomous centers of countervailing power.c. The maintenance of democracy requires the existence of a multiplicity of religions.d. The maintenance of democracy requires a predominantly urban population.e. The maintenance of democracy requires the separation of governmental powers.

Theorists of pluralism have asserted that

the maintenance of democracy requires

a. a large middle classb. autonomous centers of countervailing powerc. the existence of a multiplicity of religious groupsd. a predominantly urban populatione. the separation of governmental powers

6

Avoid using Long / complex sentences.

Multiple choice questions are composed of one question (stem) with multiple possible answers (choices), including the correct answer and several incorrect answers (distractors).

1

2

Use only

plausible and attractive alternatives as distracters.

Weak question

Dichotic presentation of stimuli and shadowing are often used in the study of brightness constancy

a. sensory scalingb. selection scalingc. shadow dancing d. cartoonse. selection attention

c and d are not serious distracters.

Improved question

Dichotic presentation of stimuli and shadowing are often used in the study of brightness constancy a. sensory scalingb. selection scalingc. illusionsd. depth perceptione. selection attention

3

Avoid giving clues to the correct answer.

Poor question A fertile area in the desert in which the water table Reaches the ground surface is called an

a.mirage b.oasisc. water hole d. polder

The article “an” identifies choice b as the correct response.

A fertile area in the desert in which the water table

reaches the ground surface is called a/an a. mirage b. oasis c. water hole d. polder

Ending the stem with “a/an” has improved the question.

4

If possible, avoid the choices “All of the above” & “None of the above”

If you do include them, make sure that they appear as correct answers some of the time.

It istempting

to resort to these alternatives but their use can be

flawed.

5

Distracters based on common student errors or misconceptions are very effective.

6

Avoid using distracters that are so close to the correct answer that they may confuse students who really know the answer to the question.

7

Higher the number of distracters, the less likely it is for the correct answer to be chosen through guessing.

8

Correct statements that do not answer the question are often strong distracters.

Avoid unnecessary and irrelevant material.

Use clear, straightforward language.

Use Negatives Sparingly. Don’t duplicate material in the options.

Avoid using long / complex sentences.

Ensure that there is only one correct response.

Use only plausible and attractive alternatives.

Avoid giving clues to the correct answer.

If possible, avoid choices like “All of the above”.

Try to base them on common student misconceptions.

Let them not be confusingly close to the correct answer.

More distracters means lesser correct guesses.

Use correct statements that don’t answer the question.