What can I learn from the student responses to multiple choice questions?

It is important (although time consuming in a paper-based assessment) to analyse the overall response to individual questions in your test, although drawing definite conclusions can be difficult. A low percentage of correct answers to any particular question, for example, may indicate that the question was very difficult, or on a topic which was not covered sufficiently in teaching or guided reading, or simply badly drafted or misleading. A high percentage of correct answers could indicate the question is easy or contains an unintended clue to the correct response, or that you have a class of unusually lucky monkeys!

To some extent it will be a matter of common sense to compare the scores with what you ‘felt’ the level of difficulty for the question to be. Notable discrepancies might require a look at the wording of the question and/or the emphasis on that area in your teaching. Again liaison with colleagues makes this process more effective.

Last Modified: 20 July 2010