Advantages and Limitations of Multiple-Choice

Items and

Suggestion for Constructing Multiple-Choice

Items

Compiled by :

Eti Ayu S 1201050049/ PBI B

Rizki Annisaa 1201050050/ PBI B

Advantages of Multiple-Choice Items

• The ambiguity and vagueness are avoided in multiple-choice items.

• It can effectively measure various types of knowledge and complex learning outcomes.

• The test gives greater reliability.

• It is easy to score.

• It is not good for problem solving ability, particulary in mathematic and science

• It is quite difficult to make good distracters.

• It takes a relatively long time to prepare multiple choice items.

• It is limited to learn outcomes at the verbal level.

Disadvantages of Multiple-Choice Items

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE-CHOICE ITEMS

• The stem of the item should be meaningful and should give definite problem. Example 1

• The item stem should be free of irrelevant material. Example 2

• The stem of item should not contain a negative statement. Example 3

• All of the alternatives should be gramatically consistent with the stem of item. Example 4

• An item should contain only one correct. Example 5

• Item used to measure understanding should contain some novelty, but beware of too much.

• All distracters should be plausible. Example 6

• Verbal associations between the stem and the correct answer should be avoided. Example 7

• The length of the alternatives should not provide a clue to the answer. Example 8

• The correct answer should appear in each of the alternative positions an approximately equal number of times but in random order.

• Use sparingly special alternatives such as “none of the above” or “all of the above”.Example 9

• Do not use multiple-choice items when other item types are more appropriate.

• Break any of these rules when you have a good reason for doing so