Top Ten Flaws in Constructing
Multiple-Choice Items

This session is designed to bring novice as well as senior faculty up to speed on ten critical multiple-choice item writing rules (out of 43) used over the past 2,000 years. The workshop begins with a Pretest of Testwiseness to determine participants’ skill level in picking out item flaws. Then a top ten list of multiple-choice test item flaws is described and illustrated with semiamusing items.

Why are these ten so important? If these flaws are not corrected, testwise students can use them as clues to the correct answer, which can inflate their scores. While this practice may delight students, it is psychometrically evil because it can decrease the reliability and validity of the scores.

At the end of the session, participants are given time to correct their pretest answers before they’re scored. By the time they leave this fun-filled session, participants’ are able to detect even the most subtle and sneaky flaws in multiple-choice items. Participants will not only be able to write better items for their own tests, but will also have the skills to write and review items for publishers of textbooks in their field and standardized tests.

This topic is available as a 1–1.5-hour workshop.

To find out more, email Ed Leach or call (480) 705-8200, x233.