Anonymous (XXXX) Rubric scoring and item writing.pdf

Robe~t w. Lissitz
First compiled by M.J. Wantman
Directions for Test Construction and Item Writing
General directions for item writing
1.
2.
Express the item as clearly as possible
of grammar, rhetoric, and punctuation. '
observing the rules
Use only items which have an answer upon which all experts
agree.
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12.
Do not use trick or catch items--items that are phrased so
that the correct answer depends on a single, obscure key word
to which even good students are unlikely to give sufficient
attention.
Avoid irrelevant clues--i.e., wording that enables the correct
answer to be determined merely by intelligence and not because
of knowledge which the question is designed to measure.
Items should not be inter-dependent.
One item should not furnish the answer to another one.
Avoid textbook wording.
The position of the correct alterative should be random.
SUbject matter and phrasing should be such that no emotional
antagonism will be aroused.
The item should call for a knOWledge of concepts, reasons, and
relationships rather than for mere factual information,
whenever the former is appropriate.
omit any part of the item which can be omitted without
significantly influencing the distribution of responses.
If possible, the question should be stated in positive terms.
MUltiple-Choice questions
13. The stem or introductory statement should be as complete as
possible.
14. Distractors or options should be as short as possible.
15. Distractors should be plausible.
16. The length of a distractor should not vary consistently with
the correctness of the distractor.