Topic 5 EA : Constructing Essay Questions @ OUM

What is the primary purpose of essay questions in assessments?

• To test basic recall of information

• To evaluate higher-order thinking skills

• To compare student performances

• To ensure standardized responses

Which of the following is a key characteristic of an essay question?

• Objective scoring

• Structured responses

• Open-ended responses

• Fixed correct answers

What distinguishes restricted-response essay questions from extended-response essay questions?

• Restricted-response questions limit the scope of the answer.

• Extended-response questions have only one correct answer.

• Restricted-response questions focus on creativity.

• Extended-response questions use a fixed word limit.

An extended-response essay question is most appropriate when assessing:

• Memorization of facts

• The ability to explain relationships and concepts

• Spelling accuracy

• Speed of recall

What is a significant advantage of essay questions in assessments?

• They are easier to grade than objective tests.

• They allow for the assessment of complex thinking processes.

• They eliminate bias in marking.

• They reduce the risk of misinterpretation.

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using essay questions?

• Promotes critical thinking

• Reduces test construction time

• Encourages originality

• Provides insight into student reasoning

Which guideline is crucial when constructing essay questions?

• Use ambiguous language to challenge students.

• Include multiple unrelated tasks in one question.

• Clearly state the task and expected response format.

• Ensure responses can only be graded as right or wrong.

To avoid ambiguity in essay questions, teachers should:

• Specify the response length.

• Provide examples within the question.

• Use precise action verbs.

• Avoid providing instructions.

What is the primary challenge of marking essay questions?

• Aligning questions to learning outcomes

• Ensuring fairness and consistency

• Structuring the question

• Allowing diverse responses

Rubrics for grading essay questions should:

• Focus only on grammar and spelling.

• Be developed after marking begins.

• Clearly define criteria and performance levels.

• Avoid being shared with students beforehand.