Types of Test Questions

Posted by Joni Rose Jun 30, 2008

If you require quantitative results to assess corporate training, multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, or matching questions should be used. If a more qualitative result is what you are after, then short or long answer questions will provide more detail.

Multiple Choice

Multiple choice questions are a great option when you want quantifiable results for statistical purposes or need to reduce the amount of marking time. Make sure that the options offered are worded in a parallel grammatical structure.

True/False

True or false questions are an easy option for a quiz or other shorter test. The statements need to be all true or all false i.e. very black or white in order for this type of question to be valid.

Fill in the Blank or Matching

When your goal is to teach terminology, fill in the blank or matching questions can test participant’s knowledge of the definitions taught.

Short Answer

Short answer questions provide the learner an opportunity to elaborate on their level of understanding of a concept. Short answer questions allow a more vivid picture of the learning but also require more marking/reading time.

Long Answer or Essay

When it is necessary to test participant’s ability to apply the different concepts they have learned, case studies or broader essay questions may be the best choice. Some good starts to essay questions are:

• Compare and contrast…
• Give an example of…
• Describe the process where…
• Explain why…
• Give a counter argument to the statement…

A mixture of short answer with multiple choice, filling in the blank or true or false questions can provide a good snap shot of the learning and a mix of qualitative and quantitative results. The marking time is manageable with this approach and the short answer questions can offer a bit more detail on the depth of the learning.