3. ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS
WHY/HOW TYPE QUESTIONS TEST
HIGHER ORDER THINKING
PROCESSES/SKILLS
ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS AND
INDEPENDENT THINKING
TEACHER MUST: GIVE REGULAR PRACTICE
IN ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS
ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE
SKILLS
4. SUGGESTIONS FOR
CONSRUCTION OF ESSAY
TESTS
ASK QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE
EXAMINEE TO SHOW PERFORMANCE OF
SPECIFIC TASKS E.G. SYNTHESIS OF
INFORMATION
MAKE QUESTIONS AS EXPLICIT AS
POSSIBLE
TEST CONSTRUCTOR SHOULD PREPARE
IDEAL ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS
INTIMATE THE EXAMINEE ABOUT DESIRED
LENGTH OF THE ANSWERS
5. CONT…
TEST CONSTRUCTOR SHOULD GET HIS
TEST REVIEWED BY ONE OR MORE
COLLEAGUES
QUESTIONS SHOULD BE CLEARLY WORDED
SO THAT ALL EXAMINEES INTERPRET
THEM IN THE SAME WAY AS THE
EXAMINER WANTS
6. SUGGESTIONS FOR
SCORING ESSAY TESTS
PREPARE SCORING GUIDE IN THE FORM
OF OUTLINE
PARTICULAR QUESTION SHOULD BE
SCORED AT ONE TIME FOR ALL THE
EXAMINEES
IDENTITY OF THE EXAMINEE SHOULD NOT
BE COMMUNICATED TO THE EXAMINER
IF POSSIBLE APPOINT MORE THAN ONE
EXAMINERS. THE EXAMINERS SHOULD NOT
KNOW WHO IS THE OTHER EXAMINER
7. CONT...
THE SUBJECT MATTER SHOULD BE
SCORED SEPARATELY FROM GOOD
HANDWRITING, BETTER LANGUAGE.
IF THEY ARE TO BE GIVEN ANY
WEIGHT, IT SHOULD BE CLEARLY
INDICATED
8. SCORING ESSAY TESTS
SIMPLE SCORING SCHEME TESTS
CONTENT OF THE ESSAY
DEATAILED SCORING TESTS
CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, PROCESS
OR OTHER FACTORS DESIRED
THE RATING METHOD GRADES ARE
BASED ON GLOBAL IMPRESSION OF
THE WHOLE RESPONSE
9. HOLISTIC SCORING
SYSTEM
Holistic scoring is used for EXTENDED
ESSAY TESTS OR TERM PAPERS
It estimates the OVERALL QUALITY OF
PERFORMANCE AND ASSIGNS
NUMERICAL VALUE TO THE QUALITY
TESTED RATHER THAN GIVING POINTS TO
SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE.
10. RATING SCALE FOR
ESSAYS
QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF IDEAS
1 2 3 4
DETAILS UNRELATED TO FACTS ATTENTION TO FACTS RELEVANT DETAILS
LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS
ORGANIZATION OF IDEAS
STYLE, INDIVIDUALITY
WORDING AND PHRASING
11. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
1. Phrase the direction in such a way
that students are guided on key
concepts to be included.
12. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
2. Inform the student on the criteria to
be used for grading their essays. This
rule allows the students to focus on
relevant and substantive materials
rather than on peripherals and
unnecessary facts and bits of
information.
13. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
3. Put a time limit on the essay test
14. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
4. Decide on your essay grading system
prior to getting the essays of your
student.
15. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
5. Evaluate all of the students answer to
one question before proceeding to
next question.
16. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
6. Evaluation answers to essay questions
without knowing the identity of the
writer.
17. Rules of thumbs which
facilitate the scoring of
essays:
7. Whenever possible, have two or more
persons grade each answer.
