Multiple choice quizzes and exams are popular in the online learning environment as most learning management systems lend themselves to these types of assessments. Multiple choice questions can be used for both formative and summative assessments. They are composed of three parts:
How to Compose a Question Stem
A multiple choice question consists of two parts: the stem, which consists of the question itself, and the possible responses, which include one correct answer and up to 3 distractors. To write an effective stem, remember:
Do
- Compose a stem that is meaningful in itself. For example, “Which of the following statements is most correct?” does not tell the reader anything unless it is accompanied by the response options. It is therefore an ineffective stem.
- Phrase the stem as a question, rather than as an incomplete sentence that requires the learner to fill in the blank.
- Focus the stem on a single topic, and only include relevant material. Avoid overly specific or overly general content.
Don’t
- Compose question stems that require the successful completion of previous questions.
- Use negative language when composing a stem. Avoid statements like: “Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of active listening?” If you must use negative terms such as NOT and EXCEPT, make sure they stand out from the text by using italics, underlines, and boldface.
- Focus on assessing opinions or reading comprehension. Instead, compose questions that assess facts.
How to Compose Effective Response Options
Do
- Use typical student errors and familiar statements (ex. something that was said in class) as distractors, to make sure that students pick the correct answer, rather than the only familiar one.
- Check that no response option looks like the odd one out (ex. length of response is too long or too short).
- Present options vertically on the same page, and label them clearly (A, B, C, D).
- Provide four response options.
- Proofread the responses at least twice, making sure that there is one correct answer. Have at least one other person proofread the responses.
Don’t
- Use silly or funny distractors that are evidently incorrect.
- Use tricky distractors that test reading comprehension and language skills, rather than content knowledge. An effective multiple choice question has one correct or best response. Avoid tricky questions that have multiple answers, or very similar answers.
- Compose response options like “all of the above” or “none of the above.” These answers increase question difficulty and decrease the learner’s confidence, even if he/she knows the correct answer.
- Provide hints towards the right answer by making it more grammatically correct or complex than the other answers.
- Use True/False questions or ask learners to fill in the blanks, unless it is absolutely necessary.