Objective Test

highly specific, predetermined

answers
Type of Objective Test
Multiple Choice Question/Items
True-false question/Items
Matching question/Items
Fill-in the blanks question/Items

Weaknesses
The technique tests only recognition
knowledge.
Guessing may have a considerable effect
on the test score.
The technique severely restrict what can
be tested.
It is very difficult to write successful items.
Beneficial washback may be minimal.
Cheating may be facilitated.

Terminology in Designing
Multiple Choice Question

Stem
The part of MCQ items that poses the
problem or questions.

Writing effective multiple choice item stems:

Format stems as clearly, concisely phrased

questions, problems, or tasks if possible
If phrasing the stem as a question requires extra
words, make the stem into an incomplete
statement
Include most information in the stem so that the
options can be short
When making the stem an incomplete
statement, make sure the options follow the
stem in a grammatically correct manner
Avoid using negatives in stems when possible

 Avoid repeating the same words in all of the

options by moving the words to the stem
Arrange options in logical order if possible
Avoid using specific language like all,
never, or always
Keep options plausible for students who do
not know the correct option
Options selected by very few students
should be altered if the item is reused

Receptive or Selective
Response
Supply type of response
Items that test taker chooses from a
set of response rather that creating a
response.

 C:\Users\Admin\Desktop\Examples-of-M
ultiple-Choice-Items-at-the-Levels-o
f-Bloom.pdf

Option or alternatives
List of possible answer to the stem
Given in three to five
options/alternatives

 Mei Mei celebrates Chinese New Year.

She wears _________ on that day.

A) Saree
B) Baju kurung
C) Cheongsam
D) Samfoo
E) Dress

Option/alternativ
es

Key
The correct response / answer
Either be correct or the best one

 Mei Mei celebrates Chinese New Year.

She wears ________ on that day.

A) Saree
B) Baju kurung
C) Cheongsam
D) Samfoo
E) Dress

Key

Writing effective multiple choice item options:

Make sure there is only one best or correct

answer
Make options mutually exclusive (ex. Avoid 14, 2-5, 3-6 etc. as options because they
overlap)
Make options of similar length and make sure
the longest answer is only correct some of
the time
Avoid all of the above or none of the
above

Distractors
Items to distract students from
selecting the correct answer.
Almost the same as the correct
answer but it is not.

 Mei Mei celebrates Chinese New Year.

She wears ________ on that day.

A) Saree
B) Baju kurung
C) Cheongsam
D) Samfoo
E) Dress

Distractors

Subjective Test
Subjective test is evaluated by giving
an opinion, usually based on agreed
criteria.
Subjective tests include essay, shortanswer, vocabulary, and take-home
tests.
Some students become very anxious
of these tests because they feel their
writing skills are not up to par.

 A subjective test provides more opportunity to

test-takers to show/demonstrate their
understanding and/or in-depth knowledge and
skills in the subject matter.
Test takers might provide some acceptable,
alternative responses that the tester, teacher or
test developer did not predict.
Generally, subjective tests will test the higher
skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. In
short, subjective test will enable students to be
more creative and critical.