- Teacher-made assessment strategies
Use of “All of above” 1. If all of the “above is used” then the other items must
be correct. This means that a student may read the 1st
response, mark it correct and move on. Alternatively, a
student may read the 1st two items and seeing they are
true does nor need to read the other alternatives to know
to circle “all of the above”. The teacher probably does
not want either of these options.In matching items, two parallel columns containing terms, phrases, symbols, or numbers are presented and the
student is asked to match the items in the first column with those in the second column. Typically there are more
items in the second column to make the task more difficult and to ensure that if a student makes one error they do
not have to make another. Matching items most often are used to measure lower level knowledge such as persons
and their achievements, dates and historical events, terms and definitions, symbols and concepts, plants or animals
and classifications (Linn & Miller, 2005). An example with Spanish language words and their English equivalents is
below:
Directions: On the line to the left of the Spanish word in Column A, write the letter of the English word in
Column B that has the same meaning.
Column A Column B
1. Casa A. Aunt
2. Bebé B. Baby
3. Gata C. Brother
4. Perro D. Cat
___ 5. Hermano E. Dog
F. Father
G. House
While matching items may seem easy to devise it is hard to create homogenous lists. Other problems with
matching items and suggested remedies are in Table 37.
Multiple Choice items are the most commonly used type of objective test items because they have a number of
advantages over other objective test items. Most importantly they can be adapted to assess higher levels thinking
such as application as well as lower level factual knowledge. The first example below assesses knowledge of a
specific fact whereas the second example assesses application of knowledge.
Who is best known for their work on the development of the morality of justice?
a) Erikson
b) Vygotsky