Administration
Assessment of Learning
GENERAL RULES IN TEST WRITING FOR ANNUAL ASSESSMENT
Robert B. Supernaw 2001
- Use the multiple-choice format.
- Write a stem and four selections (A-D).
- Avoid negatively worded questions.
- If you must use negatives, capitalize key words (e.g., EXCEPT, NEVER, NOT).
- If numeric, place the selections in ascending or descending order. For example:
- one month
- three months
- six months
- twelve months
- With K-type questions, evenly divide the selections. For example:
- I and II
- II and III
- I and IV
- III and IV
- Avoid irrelevant sources of difficulty.
- Eliminate irrelevant clues.
- Use clear and simple language.
- Avoid unessential specificity.
- Present a single, clearly formulated problem.
- Most of the wording should be placed in the stem, not the choices.
- Make the distractors (wrong answers) similar to the correct answer in both length and complexity of wording.
- Distractors should be reasonable, but wrong.
- Make the distractors independent, not interrelated.
- Do not use "all of the above" or "none of the above."
- Make the options (answer choices) grammatically consistent with the stem and in parallel form.
- After writing the question, go back and ask, "Does this question test the ability?"