GUIDELINES IN TEST

CONSTRUCTIONS

Reported by: Caselyn Cammagay

 13% of students who got low grades in
exams are caused by faulty test questions.
WORLDWATCH, The Philadelphia Trumpet (August 2005)
“The evaluation of pupils’
progress is a major aspect of
the teacher’s job.“
Evaluating Educational Outcomes
(Oriondo & Antonio)
 Valid
Reliable
Easy to Administer
Easy to Score
Easy to Interpret
Economical
 Objective type Essay type

Free Response Type or Limited Response Type Essay

Supply Test

Short Answer Multiple Choice Restricted

Completion Test Matching Exercises Response Extended

Alternative-Response
Items
(True or False)
Free Response Type or Supply Test
It requires student to supply or give the correct
answer

Completion Short
Test Answer
 Completion
Test

Completion Test consists of an incomplete

statement that can also be answered by a
word, phrase, number or symbol.

Ex: There are ___ inches in a foot.

 Short
Answer

Short Answer uses a direct question that

can be answered by a word, phrase,
number, or symbol.
Ex: How many inches are there in a foot?

___ inches
 Suggestions for
Constructing
Free Response
Type or Supply Test
Poor:

Andres Bonifacio was born in _____.

Word the item so that the required
answer is both brief and specific.

Better:

Andres Bonifacio was born in the year _____.

Poor: Every atom has a central _______ called
a nucleus.

Omit only significant words from the

statement.

Better:
Every atom has a central core called a(n)
__________.
Poor: John Glenn made his first orbital flight around the
Earth in _____.

A direct question is generally more

desirable than an incomplete sentence.
Better:
When did John Glenn make his first orbital flight around the
Earth? _____

In what year did John Glenn make his first orbital flight
around the Earth? _____
 If mangoes weigh 5 2/3 oz. each, how much will a
Poor: dozen mangoes weigh?
_____.

If the answer is to be expressed in numerical

units, indicate the type of answer wanted.

Better:
If mangoes weigh 5 2/3 oz. each, how much will a dozen mangoes
weigh?
___lb. or ___oz.
 ● What form of energy is due to molecular motion?
Poor: _____
● What measures volume of liquids?
______________

Blanks for answers should be of equal in

length.

Better:

● What form of energy is due to molecular motion? _____

● What measures volume of liquids? _____
Poor: _____ animals that are born _____ and _____ their
young are called.

When completion items are used, do not

include too many blanks.

Better:

Warm-blooded animals that are born alive and suckle their young
are called _____.
Poor: Most of the United States’ libraries are organized
according to the ____________ decimal system.

Avoid obvious clues to the correct response.

Better:

Which organizational system is used by most of the

United States’ libraries? ____________.
Poor: Trees which shed their leaves annually are
____________.

Be sure there is only one correct response.

Better:

Trees which shed their leaves annually are called

____________.
Poor: A subatomic particle with a negative electric
charge is called an ____________.

Avoid grammatical clues to the correct

response.

Better:

A subatomic particle with a negative electric charge is

called a(n) ____________.
Poor: ____________ is the measure of central
tendency that is most affected by extremely high
or low scores.

If possible, put the blank at the end of a

statement rather than at the beginning.

Better:
The measure of central tendency that is most affected
by extremely high or low scores is the ____________.
REVIEWING SHORT-ANSWER & YES NO

COMPLETION ITEMS
1. Is this the most appropriate type of item to use for /
the intended learning outcomes?
2. Can the items be answered with a number, symbol, /
word, or brief phrase?
3. Has textbook language been avoided? /
4. Have the items been stated so that only one /
response is correct?
5. Are the answer blanks equal in length? /
6. Are the answer blanks at the end of the items? /
7. Are the items free of clues (such as a or an) /
REVIEWING SHORT-ANSWER & YES NO
COMPLETION ITEMS
8. Has the degree of precision been indicated for /
numerical answers?
9. Have the units been indicated when numerical /
answers are expressed in units?
10. Have the items been phrased so as to minimize /
spelling errors?
11. If revised, are the items still relevant to the /
intended learning outcomes?
12. Have the items been set aside for a time before /
reviewing them?