The document discusses different types of test items including objective items like true/false, multiple choice, matching, and completion questions as well as short answer and essay items. It covers the advantages and disadvantages of each type of test item as well as considerations for constructing objective test items like avoiding guesses, balancing options, and ensuring clarity. The objective items are described as having benefits like being easily scored, allowing wide content coverage, and motivating broad-based learning but also limitations like the possibility of guessing.

1. TYPES OF TEST ITEMS
Presented by: Surekha V S
Assistant Professor in Commerce Education
Sree Vivekananda Teacher Education Centre, Akkikkavu.

2. TYPES OF TEST ITEMS
 Free response
 Fixed response
 Objective type test items
 Short answer type test items
 Essay type test items

3. Objective type test items
• Responses are fixed and objective.
• Number of questions.
• Short duration for answering.
• Scoring is quite objective.
• Easily scored
• Easy to administer & control
• More valid & reliable

4. CLASSIFICATION OF OBJECTIVE TYPE TEST ITEMS
SELECTION TYPE / RECOGNITION TYPE SUPPLY TYPE/ RECALL TYPE
True/false Questions
Multiple choice Questions
Completion or Fill in the blanks
Matching type Questions

5. True/ False Items ( Alternate Response Type)
Points to be remembered:
 Avoid too many negatives
 Number of true items & false items should be balanced
 Avoid stating of personal opinion
 Avoid the words or expressions as hints to correct answers
Not be very long

6. Merits & Demerits
Merits Demerits
Easily constructed Examinee makes guesses.
Scored quickly 50% chance for guess work
Suitable for pupils who have poor
vocabulary

7. Multiple Choice Items
Two parts:
STEM: First part may be a question / an incomplete statement
KEYED RESPONSE: Correct response
DISTRACTORS: Rest of the choice.

8. Points to be kept in mind while constructing:
The item:
 Should be clear & accurate
 Should have only one correct answer
 Not copy exact same sentences from the text book
 Provide distractors that grammatically fit with the stem.
 Respones should not overlap with one another.
 Should not be ambigous.

9. Matching Type Items
• Modified version of MCQ
• Economical
Precaution:
 The items as short as possible
 Number of options should be more than that of the stems
 Items in the stem part must be homogeneous
 Give clear directions

10. Completion type test items
• Test requires the examinee to fill in the blanks
• A word or phrase should be omitted.
Points to be kept in mind:
 Avoid ambiguous statements
 Don”t omit too many words
 Avoid grammatical hints leading to answers
 Correct response should be only key words.

11. Objective type test items- Advantages
• Easily & objectively scored.
• Wide content coverage
• Reliable & valid
• Economy of time
• Eliminates irrelevant factors
• Motivates to build up broad base to students
• Can also be used to measure HOTS

12. Limitations
• Possibility of guessing
• Difficulty to prepare good items
• Problem of cheating
• Takes more time to construct
• High printing cost
• Inefficient in testing complicated skills
• Content validity cannot be tested

13. Short Answer type test items
• Question having 3 value points at the most
• Can be answered by a word or a few sentences
• Uses direct question
• Lies between objective & essay type test items
• Value points- points to be credit in the correct answer
• Expected length of the answer should be very short
• Can be answered in few seconds
• Covering wide content area

14. Advantages
• Wide area should be covered
• Easy to construct
• Little opportunity for guessing
• Helpful in interpreting of charts, diagrams etc.

15. Disadvantages
• More subjective
• Develop poor study habits
• Mechanical scoring can not be possible

16. Essay type test items
• Traditional
• Free response

17. Advantages
• Easy to construct
• Simple administration
• Used to measure complex skills
• Examinee can get the opportunity to respond freely
• Promote originality & creativity
• Reduce the chance for spot copying

18. Disadvantages
• Subjective
• Content coverage is not possible
• Develop poor study habits
• Not valid & reliable
• Develops unhealthy competition
• Leads to selective study