This document provides information on alternate-choice items, their nature and variations, advantages and limitations, principles for constructing tests, and tips for test taking. Alternate-choice items include multiple choice, true/false, yes/no, and checklist items. They are easy to score objectively but difficult to write beyond the knowledge level and more influenced by guessing. When constructing tests, each item should refer to one concept and avoid opinions, negatives, unfamiliar words, and patterns. Test takers should watch for long sentences, thoroughly read statements, and look for qualifiers.

5. B. Multiple True-False Items : consist of a stem and a list of options

7. C. Sequential True-False Items : can be presented in sequence, with the correct response to each item dependent on conditions specified in the previous item : can be used when solution of a problem requires a series of steps, each providing information to the next stage

9. D. Focused True-False Items : requires students to classify a proposition as true or false Examples: 1. The probability of precipitation increases as barometric pressure (a. increases b. decreases) 2. The atmosphere near the equator flows to the east (a. east b. west) 3. Wind direction between centers of high and low pressure is parallel to a line connecting the two centers (a. parallel b. perpendicular)

10. E. Yes-No Items : the student responds “yes” or “no” to each item Example: Which of the following terms indicate observable student performance? Circle Y for yes and N for no. 1. Explains Y N 2. Identifies Y N 3. Learns Y N 4. Predicts Y N 5. Realizes Y N

11. F. Checklist : requires students to check beside each answer for which the answer would be “Yes”, not marking beside the “No” responses Example: Which of the following terms indicate observable student performance? ________1. Explains _____4. Identifies ________2. Learns _____5. Predicts ________3. Realizes

12. F. True False Correction Items : statements are presented and each statement contains a key word or brief phrase that is underlined (what word can be changed in the sentence) Example: The Internal Revenue Service is the government agency established to monitor transportation.

15. Test Construction Principles

24.  Use more false items than true items (but no more than 15% additional false items).  Avoid using a pattern for the occurrence of true-false statements.  Be sure to include directions that tell students how and where to mark their responses.

25.  Make true and false statements equal in length.  Group questions by content.  Build up to difficulty (simpler questions first).

26. Watch out for long sentences. Read the statement thoroughly and decide if the answer is true. All parts of the statement must be true. Statements that contain negative words can sometimes be confusing. Look for words that are considered to be qualifiers. Tips in Test Taking