Know your test items!

Essay exams are easier to construct than objective exams.

• True

• False

• ?

Essay exams require more thorough student preparation and study time than objective exams.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

According to research findings, it is still undetermined whether or not essay tests require or facilitate more thorough (or even different) student study preparation.

Essay exams require writing skills whereas objective exams do not.

• True

• False

• ?

Essay exams teach a person how to write.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

Essays do not teach a student how to write but they can emphasize the importance of being able to communicate through writing.

Constant use of essay tests may encourage the knowledgeable student with poor writing skills to improve his/her writing ability in order to improve performance.

Essay exams are more subjective in nature than objective exams.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

Different readers can rate identical responses differently, the same reader can rate the same paper differently over time, the handwriting, neatness or punctuation can unintentionally affect a paper's grade and the lack of anonymity can affect the grading process. While impossible to eliminate, scoring influences or biases can (and should) be minimized.

Objective exams encourage guessing more so than essay exams.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

Both item types encourage some form of guessing. Multiple-choice, true-false and matching items can be correctly answered through blind guessing, yet essay items can be responded to satisfactorily through well-written bluffing.

Essay exams limit the extent of content covered.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

Answering essays consume more time, hence you cannot ask too many exam questions.

Not a problem with objective questions... more can be covered!

Essay and objective exams can be used to measure the same content or ability.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

A well written essay item requires that the student (1) have a store of knowledge, (2) be able to relate facts and principles, and (3) be able to organize such information into a coherent and logical written expression, whereas an objective test item requires that the student (1) have a store of knowledge, (2) be able to relate facts and principles, and (3) be able to organize such information into a coherent and logical choice among several alternatives.

Essay and objective exams are both good ways to evaluate a student's level of knowledge.

• True

• False

• ?

Answer explanation

There are particular measurement situations where one item type is more appropriate than the other.