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Writing Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are a commonly used way of testing our student’s knowledge.  Contrary to popular opinion, a good multiple choice question is hard to write, especially if you want to test higher level thinking.  This workshop will help you with the basics of multiple choice question writing. You should bring three examples of multiple choice questions you have written and your course syllabus.

Outcomes

At the conclusion of this session, you should be able to begin to:

• Discuss how and when multiple choice questions are best used.
• Discuss the elements of a good multiple choice question
• Write course objectives that represent your course and ease the process of multiple-choice question writing.
• Based on a course objective, write a multiple choice question that tests low-level knowledge
• Based on a course objective, write a multiple choice question that tests higher-level thinking skills.

References

• Anderson, L. (2002). Curricular Alignment: A re-examination. Theory into Practice, 41, 255-260.
• Burton, S. J., Sudweeks, R. R., Merrill, P. F., & Wood, B. (1991). How to prepare better multiple-choice test items: Guidelines for university faculty. Retrieved July 28, 2006 from: http://testing.byu.edu/info/handbooks/betteritems.pdf.
• McCowan, R.J. (1999). Developing Multiple Choice Tests: Tips and Techniques. Center for Development of Human Services, State University of New York.

For more information, contact the CTE (7-0838 or cte@vcu.edu)

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