How to Write a Multiple Choice Exam

Multiple choice exams seem easier to most students because even if they have no idea they can still make a guess that just might be correct. Writing a good multiple choice exam is not easy but if the exam is written well it will still test the knowledge of the students accurately.

Instructions

1. Write questions for the exam daily after class. This avoids cramming to get the exam written the night before the test.

2. Define the topic for the stem for each of the multiple choice exam questions. Be sure to address only one point per question.

3. Construct the stem of the question first. Decide if you want to use a direct question format or the incomplete statement format. Or vary between the two as needed.

4. Make your questions concise. Avoid unnecessary wording. Do not use negatives in your stem wording.

5. Answer your stem with the correct answer first. Then write the distractors (options that include three or four wrong answers). Place the correct answer in random places.

6. Choose only four total responses--the correct one and three distractors. More than four gives seems to confuse the students while less than four makes it too easy to guess the correct multiple choice answer.

7. Check your answers. All of the answers, including the correct one, should be about the same length. They should also avoid using such terms as "all of the above," "none of the above" and other inclusive terms.

8. Confer with one of your colleagues after writing your multiple choice exam and ask this person to critique the exam for you. You can also ask a former trusted student to do this job for you.