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Tips for writing effective assessment questions

These tips for writing effective assessment questions are based on information from JISC infoNet - http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/effective-use-of-VLEs/e-assessment/assess-questions).


The text of the questions should:

  • be as clear and concise as possible
  • not contain ambiguities
  • contain most of the wording
  • not be negative if possible


Answers should:

  • be equally likely
  • approximately the same length
  • internally consistent
  • in relative order (consider whether you will use a randomise answers setting)


The correct answer/s should be:

  • in varied position
  • correct


Avoid:

  • double negatives
  • 'none' or 'all' of the above
  • clues


The Loughborough University CAA Centre's Designing effective objective test questions introductory workshop document contains further advice on writing effective assessment questions.

Page last modified on 08 apr 10 12:06