1. Essay ( BAQ,SAQ, LAQ)type
structured Questions their
need advantages and
disadvantages
DR .Swanand S. Pathak
MBBS MD DACM IDCR
Associate Professor
Dept. of Pharmacology
JNMC
drswanandp@yahoo.co.in
2. At the end of the session the learner should be able to
Define what is an essay type of question
Identify the features of different types of essay questions
Elaborate on their proper applications and utilization.
Construct and critically review examples of various types
of essay questions
3. Supply type
• BAQs/SAQs - restricted response
• LAQs OR Essay Type – extended response
Simple essay
Structured or modified essay
PMP ( patient management problem )
MEQ ( modified essay questions )
4. “A test item which requires a response composed by the
examinee, usually in the form of one or more sentences,
of a nature that no single response or pattern of
responses can be listed as correct, and the accuracy
and quality of which can be judged subjectively only by
one skilled or informed in the subject”
John M. Stalnaker 1951
(A psychologist, educator and former president of the corporation that
selects high school students as National Merit Scholars.)
5. 1. Requires examinees to compose rather than select
their response.
2. Elicits student responses that must consist of more
than one sentence.
3. Allows different or original responses or pattern of
responses.
4. Requires subjective judgment by a competent
specialist to judge the accuracy and quality of
responses.
6. • What does it assess ?
Knowledge attitude skill
• The level of knowledge
Knows knows how shows how does
• Utility in summative assessment
Yes
• Validity ( content ) medium
• Reliability medium
7. Advantages
• Assessment of higher cognitive function
• Promotion of critical thinking
• Presentation of ideas in organized and logical manner
• Ease of construction
12. Advantages
• Answer in the form of key words.
• There is a specificity in the answer
• The objectivity is same as that of MCQ type questions
• Students need not show any skills in answering the
question
• Marking system can be validated easily
13. Disadvantages
• Student may not know the subject in depth.
• Does not test the reasoning ability.
• Can be copied by the students easily
14. SAQ
Define what is parenteral roure . Enumerate four
parenteral routes of drug administration.
15. Advantages
• Answer in the form of key words (partly)
• There is a specificity in the answer
• Students need not show any skills in answering the
question
• Marking system can be validated easily
16. Disadvantages
• Student may not know the subject in depth.
• The objectivity is less than the MCQ/BAQ type questions
• Does not test the reasoning ability.
• Can be copied by the students easily
17. Forming a better SAQ
• Clear regarding what you want to test.
• Whether SAQ is really required?
• Framing of the question should be precise.
• The expected answer should be to the point consisting of
key words.
• Prepare a model answer and the distribution of marks
18. SAQ
Define what is parenteral roure . Enumerate four
parenteral routes of drug administration.
19. LAQ
Parenteral route of drug administration – 10 m
Vague
Tying the cow to coconut tree phenomenon
No objectivity in evaluation
20. STRUCTURED LAQ
What are the various routes of drug administration?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
parenteral route. What precautions are to be taken while
administering the drug through the parenteral route?
21. Advantages
• In depth knowledge of the subject is required to answer
the question.
• Evaluates thinking and reasoning.
• Student has to apply the skill to answer the question.
• The answer can not be copied easily.
• Even if copied one can make out easily.
22. Disadvantages
• Least objectivity
• More subjective
• Knowledgeable expert required for evaluation
• A halo and anti halo effect.
• Time consuming scoring system.
23. Patient Management Problem
(PMP)
A 32 yrs old male unconscious patient was brought to
the ward with the history of consumption of an organo
phosphorus poison. You want to administer the drug
Pralidoxime.
What route of drug administration will be preferred in this
case ? What general precautions are to be taken while
administering the drugs by this route? In what dose
Pralidoxime is administered ? What are the adverse drug
reactions you suspect with Pralidoxime?
24. Modified Essay Question
(MEQ)
A 3yr old boy was given inj. tetanus toxoid by a
paramedical worker at PHC.
What are the advantages of parenteral route of drug
administration over the oral route?
By which parenteral route inj tetanus toxoid is given?
What is the commonest site of administration of tetanus
toxoid ?
Three days later the patient presented in the OPD with
the abscess at the injection site.
What are the probable causes of the abscess?
What precautions should be taken to prevent the
condition?
25. How to form a better LAQ
• Clarity about the knowledge area to be tested.
• Whether to use simple essay questions or patient
management problem or modified essay type questions.
• Number of small questions rather than only one phrase.
• Question should have a proper flow ,time limit
• Prepare the model marking system with prior discussions
with other experts.
• No choice should be given as difficult to construct
questions with equal difficulty.
26. • Avoid the restricted response words like what , when ,
how instead use compare and contrast , provide
argument for
• Let the students know the meaning of the words
propose, validate, evaluate , compare
27. At the end of the session the learner should be able to
Define what is an essay type of question
Identify the features of different types of essay questions
Elaborate on their proper applications and utilization.
Construct and critically review examples of various types
of essay questions
28. summary
• Well written essay questions are good for assessing the
higher cognitive functions
• Low reliability
• SAQ provide better content coverage
• Structured LAQ are more valid than the non structured
ones.
29. It requires more skill to design a question ….
than answering it …
