Chapter 3:
Objective testing
I. Subjective & Objective testing
II. Objective tests
III. General principles of multiple choice items
IV. Important guidelines of multiple choice items
V. Components of multiple choice items
I. Subjective & Objective testing
Subjective & Objective termsthe scoring
methods
All tests subjectively constructed by the
test writer
Objective tests: only one correct answer.
+ scored mechanically by computer
+ responsible for testing a large number
of candidates
Reading, vocabulary & grammarobjective
methods
Writing & speaking subjective methods
Objective tests requiring more careful
preparation
Pro. Duong Thieu Tong:
+ reliability of obj. tests: test writers
+ reliability of subj. tests: test markers
Some criticism
(1) Obj. tests: simpler to answer than subj. tests
+ the degree of difficulty determined by the test
constructors
+ no indication that all objective tests - easy
+ carefully selected and constructed & rewritten
where necessary
+ setting the pass-mark or the cutting - off point
depending on the tester’s subjective judgment
or on a particular external situation
+ pre-tested before being administrated on a
wider basis
(2) the multiple choice type encourages
guessing
+ four or five alternatives for each item
sufficient to reduce the possibility of guessing
+ In reality, candidates rarely make wild guess;
most base their guessing on partial knowledge