The Guidelines Every Teacher Needs To Create Effective MCQs

Multiple choice questions or MCQs are less subject to guessing. They are the most common objective-type questions. In addition, they can be used to assess higher-level thinking.

An MCQ has a number of alternative choices from which the student must select the correct answer to get the full mark. It is generally recommended that one uses 4 choices per question. Using fewer alternatives often results in items with inferior characteristics. The item choices are typically identified on the test copy by the letters A through D.

Components of the MCQ:

The stem 

It is the part of the multiple-choice item in which the problem is stated for the student. It can be a question, a set of directions or a statement with an embedded blank.

Options/Alternatives

They are the choices given for the embedded blank in the stem of the multiple-choice item.

The key 

It is the correct choice for the multiple-choice item.

Distractors

They are the incorrect choices for the multiple-choice item.

Guidelines for Good Stems:

The entire stem must always precede the alternatives and it should contain the problem and any clarifications.

• Start the stems clearly presenting a single, clear problem or question in each stem.
• Avoid negative phrases or irrelevant material in the stems.
• Don’t use exaggerations or extreme words when writing the stem such as “all, none, never, always, etc
• Avoid negatively stated stems.
• If an omission occurs in the stem, it should appear near the end of the stem and not at the beginning.
• Use correct grammar in the stem.
• Avoid repeating words between the stem and the alternatives.
• To test understanding of a term or concept, present the term in the stem and put the definitions or descriptions in the alternatives.

Guidelines for Good Alternatives (Options):

• Put alternatives in a logical sequence (e.g., temporal sequence, length of the choice). If two alternatives are very similar (cognitively or visually), they should be placed next to one another to allow students to compare them more easily.
• Make all alternatives grammatically consistent with the stem.
• All alternatives should be homogeneous in content, form, and grammatical structure.
• Alternatives should not overlap in meaning or be synonymous with one another.
• The length, explicitness, and technical information in each alternative should be parallel so as not to give away the correct answer.
• Avoid clues to the right answer, using “all of the above” or “none of the above” in the alternatives.
• Avoid terms such as “always” or “never,” in the choices.

Guidelines for Good Distractors:

• Make all distractors plausible and attractive. It is often useful to use popular misconceptions and frequent mistakes as distractors.
• Item distractors should include correct forms and vocabulary that actually exist in the language.
• Ensure that distractions are incorrect, but reasonable and presented in a logical order.
• Distractors should be similar in length and parallel in grammatical structure.
• When writing distractors, use words that are familiar to students.

When Reviewing an MCQ,

Consider whether the stem:

• presents a clearly defined problem to the student,
• contains unnecessary information,
• could be more simply, clearly or concisely.

Consider whether the alternatives

• are parallel in structure.
• fit logically and grammatically with the stem.
• could be more simply, clearly or concisely.

Consider whether the key

• is the best answer among the set of options for the item.
• actually, answers the question posed in the stem.
• is too obvious relative to the other alternatives.

Consider whether the distractors,

• contain one or more items a student can consider as a correct answer.
• are plausible enough to be attractive to students who are low achievers.
• contain one or more that can call attention to the key.

For more knowledge on preparing a good language test and writing effective test items, you can get my book:

“Writing Effective Test Items: The Definitive Guide”.

What This eBook Is About?

It is a practical guide to constructing effective test questions. It provides teachers with step-by-step instructions they need to go deeper, further and faster toward making a success in preparing effective classroom exams with ease and comfort.

Why I’ve Created It?

I created this eBook because many teachers asked me frequently for a guide to help them write test questions in a more effective way.

What Benefits You Can Get From It?

In this eBook, I share my experience in creating successful exams over +20 years. It is the comprehensive guide that I wish someone would have shared with me when I first started to make classroom tests for my students.

After reading this guide, teachers will be able to:

• Establish the technical quality of a test by achieving certain standards.
• Use and develop effective test items following appropriate guidelines.
• Avoid common pitfalls in testing their students.
• Grade essay tests more effectively and fairly.

Who This eBook Is For?

This guide is a valuable resource for any teacher who is interested in constructing test items that can capture effectively and fairly what a student knows.

It is the comprehensive guide that I personally wish someone would have shared with me when I first started to make classroom tests for my students.

Get This Book Now

You can also join my email list not only to be notified of the latest updates on elttguide.com but also to get TWO of my products: Quick-Start Guide To Teaching Listening In The Classroom & Quick-Start Guide To Teaching Grammar In The Classroom For FREE!

Join My Email List Now (It’s FREE)!

Want to Continue Your ELT Professional Development?

I offer various ELT publications on teaching English as a foreign language. 

In these publications, I put the gist of my experience in TEFL for +20 years with various learners and in various environments and cultures.

The techniques and tips in these publications are sure-fire teaching methods that worked for me well and they can work for you, as well, FOR SURE.

Go ahead and get a look at these publications to know more about each one of them and the problem & challenge each one focuses on to overcome.

Then, you can get what you have an interest in. It is very easy and cheap. You can afford it and you’ll never regret it if you decide to get one of them, FOR SURE.

Now, click to get a look at my Publications