Types of Memorization Assessments When creating assessments, remember

that questions must correlate with objectives.

Types of Memorization AssessmentsMultiple ChoiceTrue/FalseMatching

Multiple Choice

Multiple choice items consist of a stem, which is the question and alternatives.The alternatives include the correct answer

and incorrect answers (distracters).

Most levels of Bloom’s taxonomy can be written as multiple choice questions.Knowledge, Comprehension, Application,

and Analysis

Multiple Choice Constructing a multiple choice question

1. Relate the question to an objective; leave out unnecessary information

Example objective: Name the continents in the eastern hemisphere.

Example question: Which of the following is not a continent in the eastern hemisphere?○ a. Asia○ b. North America○ c. Africa○ d. Australia

Multiple Choice

Constructing a multiple choice question2. Include most of the information in the

stemExample question: Latitude is the measure

of distance ○ a. east or west of the prime meridian○ b. north or south of the equator○ c. from one continent to another○ d. from the earth to the moon

Multiple Choice

Constructing a multiple choice question3. Do not phrase the question so that the

answer is obvious

Example question : If you worked in Henry Ford’s factory, you would have built ana.wagonb.trainc.automobiled.boat

Example question: If you worked in Henry Ford’s factory, you would have built a(n)a.wagonb.trainc.automobiled.boat

Multiple Choice

Constructing a multiple choice questionAdditional pieces of advice:

○ Try not to use always and never as distracters○ Try not to use none of the above and all of the

above○ Try to phrase questions in a positive manner

True/False

Constructing a true/false question1. Make sure that the question is entirely

true or entirely false

Example question: True or False: Abraham Lincoln, George Bush, and George Washington were all members of the Republican Party.

(False, because the Republican Party did not exist when George Washington was president)

Example question: True or False: Abraham Lincoln and George Bush were members of the Republican Party.

(True)

True/False

Constructing a true/false question2. Use one thought per question

Example question: True or False: There have been 38 presidents and George Washington was the first.

(False, there have been 43 presidents)

Example questions: True or False: George Washington was the first president. (True)

There have been 38 presidents.(False)

True/False

Limitations of true/false questions1. Students have a 50/50 chance of

guessing the correct answer2. Limited to the lower levels of Bloom’s

taxonomy

Matching

Advantage to matching questions: a lot of information can be assessed in less space on the page

Disadvantage to matching questions: “Double Jeopardy” can occur (if there are 5 questions and 5 choices, missing one automatically makes another answer incorrect)

Matching

Constructing matching questions1. Try to keep the test items to six or seven2. Keep the items simple (words or phrases)3. Include one or two more items in the

second column to reduce correct guesses

Source

Morrison, G.R., Ross, S.M., & Kemp, J.E. (2007).  Designing Effective Instruction. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.