Assessment in Learning 1 Modules PNC
Assessment in Learning 1 Modules PNC
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING 1
MODULES
Chapter 1
As part of overall evaluation process, we need specifically to find out if the learners are actually learning
as a result of the teaching. Assessent is a means of finding out what learning is taking place. As well as
the specific knowledge and skills.
There is a lot debate on how to assess learning, and especially about how to evaluate performance. It
gaves us guidance on what to assess, because they are written in terms of what the learners should be
able to do.
3. Ask the learner to select and apply facts and principles to solve a given problem.
4. Ask the learner to formulate and solve his or her own problem by selecting,generating and applying
facts and principles.
5. Ask the learner to perform tasks that shows mastery of the learning outcomes.
In many education systems, Assessment is used as a tool dor sorting students for selection purposes
(progression to a higher level of education, higher reward among others). Assessment where students
are compared with each other is known as norm-referencing. It is much better if learners are aware of
what they need to learn and what they have learned. Teachers and trainers should advise the learners,
and guide them in order to help them learn; this is the key role of the teacher. Assessment of learners in
relation to a particular target or level of performance is called criticism-referencing.
Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation mean many different things. This terms are sometimes used
interchangeably in the field of education.
The term Assessment refers to the different components and activities of different schools. An
assessment can be used to student learning and in comparing student learning with the learning goals of
an academic program. Assessment is a systematic process of gathering, interpreting and using this
information about students learning.
There are different purposes of assessment such as: to provide the feedback to students and to serve as
diagnostic tool for instruction. For this purpose of assessment usually answers the questions, “Was the
instruction effective?” and “Did the students achieve the intended learning outcomes?”
The most common form of assessment is giving a test. Since test is a form of assessment, hence, it also
answers the question, “how does individual student perform?”
Test is formal and systematic instrument, usually paper and pencil procedure designed to assess the
quality, ability, skill or knowledge of the students by giving a set of question in uniform manner.
Testing is one of the different methods used to measure the level of performance or achievement of the
learners. It also refers to the administration,scoring and interpretation of the procedures designed to
get information about the extent of the performance of the students.
Evaluation refers to the process of judging the quality of what is good and what is desirable. It is the
comparison of data to a set of standard or learning criteria for the purpose of judging the worth or
quality.
It is used to determine what individuals can do when performing at their best. Examples of
intruments using maximum performance are aptitude tests and achievement tests.
• Typical Performance
An assessment used to measure knowledge and skills effectively and efficiently. Standard
multiple-choice test is an example of instrument used in fixed-choice test.
• Complex-performance Assessment
An assessment procedure used to measure the performance of the learner in contexts and on
problems values in their own right.
“Teaching and Learning are reciprocal processes that depend on and affect one another (Swearingen
2002 and Kellough, 1999).” The assessment component of instructional processes deals with the
learning progress of the students and the teacher’s effectiveness in imparting knowledge to the
students. Assessment enhances learning in the instructional processes if the result provides feedbacks
to both students and teachers. The information obtained from the assessment is used to evaluate the
teaching methodologies and strategies of the teacher. It is also used to make teaching decisions. • The
result of assessment is used to diagnose the learning problems of the students.
Beginning of Instruction.
This kind of assessment is concerned with the entry performance and typically focuses on the
questions: Does the Learner possess the knowledge and skills needed to begin the planned instruction?
To what extent has the learner already developed the understanding and skills t that are goals of
planned objectives?
To what extent do the student’s interest, work habits and personality indicate that one mode of
instruction might be better than the other?
Placement Assessment – The purpose of placement assessment is to determine the prerequisite skills,
degree of mastery of the course the best mode of learning.
During Instruction
During the instructional process the main concern of a classroom teacher is to monitor the learning
progress of the students. The teachers should assess whether the students achieved the intended
learning outcomes set for a particular lesson.
Formative Assessment
It is a type of assessment used to monitor the learning progress of the students during instruction. The
purpose of formative assessment are the following: Immediate feedback Identify learning errors
Modifying instruction Improve both learning and instruction
Diagnostic Assessment
It is a type of assessment given at the beginning of the instruction. It aims to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of the students regarding the topics to be discussed.
End of Instruction
Summative Assessment
A type of assessment usually given at the end of a course unit. The purposes of summative assessment
are to determine the following: Instructional objectives achieved Certify the students mastery Provide
information for judging Effectiveness of instruction.
method of interpretation it is assumed that the level of performance of will not vary much from one
class to another class.
performance according to specified domain of clearly defined learning task. This method of
interpretation is used when the teacher wants to determine how well the students have learned
specific knowledge or skills in a certain course or subject matter.
This are ways in describing classroom test and other procedures in the table below adapted and
modified from Gronlund, Linn, and Miller (2009)
Other Types of Test
Non-standardized Test
Standardized Test
Is a type of test developed by test specialist. It is administered, scored and interpreted using a certain
standard condition.
Objective Test
Is a type of test in which two or more evaluators give an examinee the score.
Subjective Test
Is a type of test in which the scores are influenced by the judgment of the
Supply Test
Is a type of test that requires the examinees to supply an answer, such as an essay test item or
completion or short answer test item.
Fixed-response Test
It is a type of test that requires the examines to select an answer from a given option such as multiple-
choice test, matching type of test, or true/false test/
Individual Test
questioning.
Group Test
Mastery Test
Is a type of achievement test that measures the degree of mastery of a limited set of learning
outcomes using criterion-reference to interpret the result.
Survey Test
Is a type of test that measures students’ general achievement over a broad range of learning outcomes
Speed Test
Is designed to measure a number of items of individual can complete over a period of time.
Power Test
degree of difficulty
Mode of Assessment
Traditional Assessment
It is a type of assessment in which the students choose their answer from a given of choices. In
traditional assessment, students are expected to recognize that there is only one correct or best
answer for the question asked.
Alternative Assessment
An assessment in which students create an original response to answer a certain question. Students
respond to a question using their own ideas, in their own words.
Performance-based Assessment
Is an assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks demonstrate meaningful
application of essential knowledge and skills.
It is a direct measure of student performance because the tasks are designed to incorporate context,
problems and solution strategies that students would use in real life.
Portfolio Assessment
Portfolio assessment is the systematic, longitudinal collection of student work created in response to
specific, known instructional objects and evaluated in relation to the same criteria.
Portfolio
Is a purposeful collection of student work that exhibits the student’s efforts, progress and
achievements in one or more areas over a period of time. It measures the growth and development of
students.
Improvement of student learning is the main purpose of classroom assessment. This can be done if
assessment is integrated with good instruction and is guided by certain principles. Gronlund (1998)
provided the general guidelines for using student assessment effectively.
Effective assessment requires that the instructional relevance of the procedure should be considered.
Chapter Exercises
Chapter 2
Assessing Learning Outcomes
Introduction
Instructional objectives are specific, measurable, short-term, observable student behaviors. Objectives
are the foundation upon which you can build lessons and assessments that you can prove meet your
overall course or lesson goals. Think of objectives as tools you use to make sure you reach your goals. A
classroom teacher should classify the objectives of the lesson because it is very important for the
selection of the teaching method and the selection of the instructional materials. The instructional
material should be appropriate for the lesson so that the teacher can motivate the students properly.
The objectives can be classified according to the learning outcomes of the lesson that will be discussed.
1. It provides direction for the instructional process by clarifying the intended learning outcome
2. It conveys instructional intent to other stakeholders such as students, parents, school officials,
and the public.
3. It provides basis for assessing the performance of the students by describing the performance to
be measured.
The terms goals and objectives are two different concepts but they are related to each other. Goals
and objectives are very important, most especially when you want to achieve something for the
students in any classroom activities. Goals can never be accomplished without objectives and you
cannot get the objectives that you want without goals. This means that goals and objectives are both
tools that you need in order that you can accomplish what you want to achieve. Below are the
different descriptions between goals and objectives.
Goals Objectives
Broad in nature Narrow in scope
Valuable for setting a general direction or vision Specific steps
Difficult to measure Associated with a schedule and time frame
Abstract ideas Easy to measure
Longer term The means to the end result
General Educational Program Objectives, and Instructional Objectives
Goals are usually considered to be broad statements about what a university, college, program, or
instructor would like students to achieve (typically over a lengthier span of time). These are often found
in strategic plans or in course descriptions within university catalogs, handbooks, or websites.
General Educational Program Objectives. There are two categories of educational objectives: Those
which describe the school-wide outcomes, usually referred to as general objectives; Those which
described behaviours to be attained and are usually referred to as specific objectives
Instructional Objectives. A learning objective is a statement that specifies in behavioural (measurable)
terms what a learner will be able to do as a result of instruction. It describes the intended outcome of
your instruction rather than a description or summary of your content. It is but one of several steps that
should be followed when developing instruction. Instructional objectives provide both you and your
students with ‘section direction’. Statement that will describe what the learner will be able to do after
completing the instruction. Instructional objectives are specific, measurable, short-term, observable
student behaviors.
Clearly stated objectives have four characteristics. First, the instructional objective must state the
audience for the educational activity. Second, the observable behavior(s) expected of the audience must
be identified. Third, the conditions under which the behavior is to be accomplished must be included.
Finally, the degree to which the behavior is to be completed must be specified. Together these four
components make up a measurable behavioral objective that will provide the cornerstone to your
planning, delivery, and evaluation efforts.
A--Audience
Who is the audience for your educational activity? While it may appear the audience is obvious for most
instructional activities, a common error may distort or prevent the evaluation of your program. First,
one must consider the difference between the target and accessible population/audience. Your target
may be all youth between 14 and 16 years of age in Typical County; however, your accessible population
may be all 14-16 year old 4-H members who attended the County 4-H Camp. If you write your objective
in broad terms and follow proper evaluation procedures, you will be held accountable for the behaviors
of youth you never served. Your behavioral objective should identify the specific audience you plan to
target.
Although it has the appearance of being one, the statement is not a behavioral objective because the
audience and its performance are not identified. This statement could be made into a behavioral
objective by rewording the statement to the following: "Upon completion of the lesson, 100% of the
participants will be able to list the steps in delivering a prepared speech." The audience is the workshop
participants.
B--Behavior
Each objective must identify the behavior or the performance the learner is expected to do. A behavioral
objective should never include the instructional process or procedure as the behavior. It should always
describe the intended results rather than the means of achieving those results.
The performance must be overt or directly observable. Performances that cannot be directly observed
or performances that are mental, invisible, cognitive, or internal are considered covert and should never
be used as a behavior unless they are included with another indicator (directly observable) behavior. See
Figure 1 for specific examples on ways to correctly write behaviors.
Behaviors can be written for one of three "domains of learning." The cognitive domain deals with the
acquisition of facts, knowledge, information, or concepts. Psychomotor behaviors use the mind in
combination with motor skills (physical activities). Affective behaviors have to do with changes in
attitudes, values, aesthetics, and appreciation.
Behavioral objectives written in the "cognitive" domain can be further divided into six levels of Bloom's
Taxonomy. Bloom's Taxonomy (Bloom, Engelhart, Furst, Hill, & Krathwohl, 1956) includes:
Knowledge: remembering of previously learned material; recall (facts or whole theories); bringing to
mind.
Application: ability to use learned material in a new situation; apply rules, laws, methods, theories
Synthesis: ability to put parts together to form a new whole; unique communication; set of abstract
relations
Evaluation: ability to judge value for purpose; base on criteria; support judgment with reason. (No
guessing).
Figure 1.
The participants will understand the difference between IRAs and Roth IRAs. Understand is a covert
activity. How will you know the participants understand? Rewrite with an observable behavior. For
example: Each participant will be able to list in writing the major differences between an IRA and a Roth
IRA.
Each participant in the program will develop a written conservation plan for his farm.
The behavior is directly observable. You will be able examine each conservation plan.
Develop an appreciation is a covert activity. How will you know they appreciate parliamentary law?
Rewrite with an observable behavior. For example: Participants will demonstrate an appreciation of
parliamentary law by correctly using the principles in each business meeting.
This is not a behavioral objective. It is a statement of what the instructor will do. You can make it a
behavioral objective by rewriting in the following manner: Upon completion of the training, participants
will correctly list the steps in completing a 1040 income tax form.
C--Condition
Each behavioral objective must describe the conditions (if any) under which the performance is to occur.
Conditions may include what the learner will be allowed to use, what the learner will be denied, under
what conditions the learner is expected to perform the behavior, or specific skills that should be
excluded (Figure 2).
Figure 2.
Given a maximum of six references, each participant will prepare a four to six minute extemporaneous
speech.
Without the use of any reference materials, the president will conduct the meeting using Roberts Rules
of Order.
Under what conditions is the learner expected to perform:
Given a small engine with one problem, a set of diagnostic equipment, and a repair manual, the youth
will diagnose and repair the small engine in less than 60 minutes.
Without restarting the computer, each participant will successfully change the display setting of their
computer.
D--Degree
Finally, each objective must describe the degree to which the behavior must be performed to constitute
an acceptable performance. It is not always necessary or practical to include the degree in an objective;
however, the more information included in an objective the better it will communicate the desired
outcome. The degree can include criterion such as speed, accuracy, and quality.
1. Behavioral Objectives is a learning outcome stated in measurable terms, which gives direction to
the learner's experience and becomes the basis for student evaluation. Objectives may vary in
several respects. They may be general or specific, concrete or abstract, cognitive, affective, or
psychomotor.
2. General Objectives. Statement wherein the behaviors are not usually specified and the criterion
of the performance level is not stated. It only describes the experience or educational activity to
be done. The outcome of the activity is not expressed in specific terms but in general terms such
as understand, interpret, or analyze.
Examples:
The following are examples of verbs in terms of observable learning outcomes and unobservable
learning outcomes
Educational objectives describe the goals toward which the education process is directed–the learning
that is to result from instruction. When drawn up by an education authority or professional organization,
objectives are usually called standards. Taxonomies are classification systems based on an organizational
scheme. In this instance, a set of carefully defined terms, organized from simple to complex and from
concrete to abstract, provide a framework of categories into which one may classify educational goals.
1. Cognitive Domain called for outcomes of mental activity such as memorizing, reading problem
solving, synthesizing and The cognitive domain involves knowledge and the development of
intellectual skills (Bloom, 1956). This includes the recall or recognition of specific facts,
procedural patterns, and concepts that serve in the development of intellectual abilities and
skills. There are six major categories of cognitive an processes, starting from the simplest to the
most complex
2. Affective Domain.The affective domain involves our feelings, emotions, and attitudes. This
domain includes the manner in which we deal with things emotionally, such as feelings, values,
appreciation, enthusiasms, motivations, and attitudes.
3. Psychomotor Domain. The psychomotor domain includes utilizing motor skills and the ability to
coordinate them. The sub domains of psychomotor include perception; set; guided response;
mechanism; complex overt response; adaptation; and origination. Perception involves the ability
to apply sensory information to motor activity
Revised Bloom's taxonomy refers to the emphasis on two learning domains that make up educational
objectives: cognitive (knowledge) and affective (attitude). The revised taxonomy focuses on six levels:
remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate and create.
Changes to Bloom’s Taxonomy
2. Comprehension: The ability to grasp or construct meaning from material. 2. Understanding:
Examples of verbs that relate to this function are: Constructing meaning from
different types of functions be they
restate locate report identify discuss illustrate interpret written or graphic messages or
recognize explain describe discuss draw represent activities like interpreting,
express review infer differentiate conclude exemplifying, classifying,
summarizing, inferring, comparing,
or explaining.
3. Application: The ability to use learned material, or to implement material in 3. Applying:
new and concrete situations. Examples of verbs that relate to this function are: Carrying out or using a procedure
through executing, or
apply relate develop organize employ practice calculate implementing. Applying relates to
translate use operate restructure interpret show exhibit or refers to situations where
demonstrate illustrate dramatize learned material is used through
products like models,
presentations, interviews or
simulations.
4. Analysis: The ability to break down or distinguish the parts of material into its 4. Analyzing:
components so that its organizational structure may be better Breaking materials or concepts into
understood. Examples of verbs that relate to this function are: parts, determining how the parts
relate to one another or how they
analyze compare differentiate contrast experiment scrutinize interrelate, or how the parts relate
probe inquire examine investigate detect discover inspect to an overall structure or purpose.
contrast categorize survey classify deduce dissect discriminate Mental actions included in this
separate function are differentiating,
organizing, and attributing, as well
as being able to distinguish
between the components or parts.
When one is analyzing, he/she can
illustrate this mental function by
creating spreadsheets, surveys,
charts, or diagrams, or graphic
representations.
5. Synthesis: The ability to put parts together to form a coherent or unique new 5. Evaluating:
whole. Examples of verbs that relate to this function are: Making judgments based on criteria
and standards through checking
compose produce plan invent formulate propose develop and critiquing. Critiques,
design assemble create collect set up arrange construct recommendations, and reports are
prepare predict modify generalize document organize originate some of the products that can be
tell combine relate derive write propose created to demonstrate the
processes of evaluation. In the
newer taxonomy, evaluating comes
before creating as it is often a
necessary part of the precursory
behavior before one creates
something.
6. Evaluation: The ability to judge, check, and even critique the value of material 6. Creating:
for a given purpose. Examples of verbs that relate to this function are: Putting elements together to form
a coherent or functional whole;
judge assess compare argue decide choose validate consider reorganizing elements into a new
evaluate conclude rate select estimate appraise value criticize pattern or structure through
measure deduce infer generating, planning, or
producing. Creating requires users
to put parts together in a new way,
or synthesize parts into something
new and different creating a new
form or product. This process is the
most difficult mental function in
the new taxonomy.
T a b l e o f t h e R e v i s e d C o g n i ti v e D o m a i n
Examples, key words (verbs), and technologies for
Category
learning (activities)
The affective domain is one of three domains in Bloom's Taxonomy, with the other two
being the cognitive and psychomotor (Bloom, et al., 1956). For an overview of the
three domains, see the introduction .
The affective domain (Krathwohl, Bloom, Masia, 1973) includes the manner in which
we deal with things emotionally, such as feelings, values , appreciation,
enthusiasms, motivations , and attitudes . The five major categories are listed from the
simplest behavior to the most complex:
The seven major categories are listed from the simplest behavior to the
most complex:
Dave (1975):
Harrow (1972):
Chapter 3
3. Use appropriate test items. A good test usually includes items that are
4. Make test valid and reliable. The test measures what is supposed to be measured from the
students.
5. Use test to improve learning. Discuss the skills or competencies on the items that have not been
learned or mastered by the learners.
The learning target must be focused on student learning objectives. The Learning outcomes must be
SMART! The performance task should be clearly presented. The teacher should also discuss clearly
the criteria.
SCORABILITY. It means that the test should be easy to score, direction for scoring should
be clearly stated in the instruction. Provide the students an answer sheet and the answer
key for the one who will check the test.
ADEQUACY. It means that the test should contain a wide range of sampling of items to
determine the educational outcome or abilities so that the resulting scores are
representatives of the total performance areas measured.
ADMINISTRABILITY. It means that the test should be administered uniformly to all
students so that the scores obtained will not vary due to factors.
PRACTICALITY AND EFFICIENCY. It refers to the teacher’s familiarity with the methods used,
time required for the assessment, complexity of the administration, ease of scoring, ease of
interpretation of the test results and the materials used must be at the lower cost.
Write directions.
The first step in developing an achievement test is to examine and go back to the instructional
objectives so that you can match with the test items to be constructed.
Is a chart or table that details the content and level of cognitive level assessed on a test as well as the
types and emphases of test items (Gareis and Grant, 2008).
Provides the test constructor a way to ensure that the assessment is based from the intended learning
outcomes.
Refer to the intended learning outcomes stated as specific instructional objective covering a particular
test topic.
Cognitive Level
Pertains to the intellectual skill or ability to correctly answer a test item using Bloom’s Taxonomy of
educational objectives.
1. Begin writing items far enough or in advance so that you will have time to revise them.
2. Match item to intended outcomes at appropriate level of difficulty to provide valid measure of
instructional objectives.
3. Be sure each items deals with an important aspect of the content area and not with trivia.
5. Be sure that the item is independent with all the other items.
6. Be sure the item has one or best answer on which experts would agree.
8. Avoid replication of the textbook in writing test items; do not quote directly from the textual
materials.
Write Directions
Check the test directions for each item format to be sure that it is clear for the students to understand.
Before reproducing the test, it is very important to proofread first the test items for typographical and
grammatical errors and make necessary corrections if any.
Be sure to check your answer key so that the correct answers follow a fairly random sequence.
Analyze and improve the test items should be done after checking, scoring and recording the test.
Type of assessment tool should always be appropriate with the objectives of the lesson.
There are two general types of test item to use in achievement test using paper and pencil test. It is
classified as selection-type items and supply type items.
Selection type items require students to select the correct response from several options. This is also
known as objective test item. Selection type items can be classified as: multiple-choice; matching type;
true or false; or interpretative exercises.
Objective test item requires only one correct answer in each item.
A. Multiple-choice Test
Is used to measure knowledge outcomes and other types of learning outcomes such as comprehension
and applications.
Multiple choice item consist of three parts: the stem, the keyed option and the incorrect options or
alternatives.
1. Make a test item that is practical or with real- world application to the students.
2. Use diagrams or drawing when asking question about application, analysis or evaluation.
3. When ask to interpret or evaluate about quotations, present actual quotation from secondary
sources like published books or newspapers.
4. Use tables, figures, or charts when asking question to interpret.
5. Use pictures if possible when students are required to apply concepts and principles.
6. List the choices/options vertically not horizontally.
7. Avoid trivial questions.
8. Use only one correct answer or best answer format.
9. Use three to five options to discourage guessing
10. Be sure that distracters are plausible and effective.
11. Increase the similarity of the options to increase the difficulty of the item.
12. Do not use ‘none of the above’ options when asking for best answer.
13. Avoid using ‘all of the above’ options.
Matching Type Test has two column, the column A which contains the description and must be place at
the left side while column B contains options and placed at the right side.
Guidelines in constructing Matching Type of Test
1. The description and options must be short and homogenous.
2. The description must be written at the left side and marked it with Column A and the options
must be written at the right side and marked it with Column B to save time for the examinees.
3. There should be more options than descriptions or indicate in the directions that each option
may be used more than once to decrease the chance of guessing.
4. Matching directions should specify the basis for matching.
5. Avoid too many correct answers.
6. When using names, always include the complete name (first and surname) to avoid
ambiguities.
7. Use numbers for the descriptions and letters for the options to avoid confusions to the
students that have a reading problem.
8. Arrange the options into a chronological order or alphabetical order.
9. The descriptions and options must be written in the same page.
10. A minimum of three items and a maximum of seven items for elementary level and a maximum
of seventeen items for secondary and tertiary levels.
Advantage of Matching Type Test
1. It is simpler to construct than a multiple-choice type of test.
2. It reduces the effect of guessing compared to the multiple-choice and true or false type of test.
3. It is appropriate to assess the association between facts.
4. Provides easy, accurate, efficient, objective and reliable test scores.
5. More content can be covered in the given set of test.
True or False Type
A “force-choice test”
The students are required to choose the answer true or false in recognition to a correct statement or
incorrect statement.
Guidelines in constructing True or False Test
1. Avoid writing a very long statement.
2. Avoid trivial questions.
3. It should contain only one idea in each item except for statement showing the relationship
between cause and effect.
4. It can be used for establishing cause and effect.
5. Avoid using opinion-based statement, it it cannot be avoided the statement should be
attributed to somebody.
6. Avoid using negative or double negatives.
7. Avoid specific determiner such as “some”, “always”, “all”, “none” for they tend to appear in
the statement that are false.
8. Avoid specific determiner such as “some” “sometimes,” and “may” that tend to appear in the
statement that are true.
9. The number of true items must be the same with the number of false items.
10. Avoid grammatical clues that lead to a correct answer such as the article (a, an, the).
11. Avoid statement directly taken from the textbook.
12. Avoid arranging the statement in a logical order such as (TTTTT-FFFFF, TFTFTFTF, TTFFTTFFTT)
13. Directions should indicate where or how the students should mark their answer.
Advantage of a True or False Test
1. It covers a lot of content in a short span of time.
2. It is easier to prepared compared to multiple- choice and matching type test.
3. It is easier to score because it can be scored objectively compared to a test that depends on
the judgement of the caters.
4. It is useful when there are two alternatives only.
5. The score is more reliable than essay test.
Disadvantages of True or False Test
1. Limited only to low level of thinking skills such as knowledge and comprehension, or
recognition or recall information.
2. High probability of guessing the correct answer (50%) compared to multiple-choice which
consist of four options (25%).
Supply Type or Subject Type of Test Items
1. Require students to create and supply their own answer or perform a certain task to show
mastery of knowledge or skills.
2. Also known as constructed response test.
Constructed response test are classified as:
1. Short answer or completion type
2. Essay type items (restricted or extended response)
Subjective Test Items
Requires the student to organize and present an original answer (essay test) and perform task to
show mastery of learning (performance-base assessment and portfolio assessment) or supply a
word or phrase to answer a certain question (complition or short item type of test).
Essay test
Is a form of subjective type of test.
Measures complex cognitive skills or process.
Kinds of Subjective Type Test Item
A. Completion Type or Short Answers Test
- Is an alternative form of assessment because the examinee needs to supply or create
appropriate words, symbols or numbers to answer a question or complete a statement.
Two Ways of Constructing Completion Type or Short Answer Type Test
Question form; and
Complete the statement form
Guidelines in Constructing Completion Type or Short Answer Type Test
1. The item should require a single word answer.
2. Be sure that the language used in the statement is precise and accurate in relation to the
subject matter being tested.
3. Be sure to omit only key words.
4. Do not leave the blank at the beginning or within the statement.
5. Use direct question rather than incomplete statement.
6. Be sure to indicate the units in which the statement requires numerical answers.
7. Be sure the answer of the student is required to produce is factually correct.
Essay Item
Ability to organize and present their original ideas.
“Type of Essay Items”
Extended response essay
Restricted response essay
Restricted Response Essay Questions
Restricted response usually limits both the content and the response by restricting the scope of
the topic to be discussed.
Useful for measuring learning outcomes requiring interpretation and application of data in a
specific area.
Example of Restricted Response
Describe two situations that demonstrate the application of the law of supply and demand. Do
not use those examples discussed in class.
State the main differences between the Vietnam War and previous wars in which the United
States has participated.
Extended Response Essay Questions
Extended response question allows student to select information that they think is pertinent,
to organize the answer in accordance with their best judgment, and to integrate and evaluate
ideas as they think suitable. They do not set limits on the length or exact content to be
discussed.
Examples of Extended Response Essay Questions
Compare developments in international relations in the administrations of President William
Clinton and President George W. Bush. Cite examples when possible.
Imagine that you and a friend found a magic wand. Write a story about an adventure that you
and your friend had with the magic wand.
Types of complex outcomes and related terms for writing essay question
Guideline in constructing essay test items
1. It is easier to prepare and less time consuming compared to other paper and pencil test.
2. It measures HOTS.
3. It allows students’ freedom to express individually in answering the given question.
4. Students have the chance to express their own ideas.
5. It reduces guessing answer compared to any of the objective type of test.
6. It presents more realistic task to the students.
7. It emphasizes on the integration and application of ideas.
CHAPTER 4
GOAL IN THIS CHAPTER: To provide suggestion on how to avoid common pitfalls in test assembly,
administration, and scoring.
Maximize Achievement.
Rotate Distribution.
Monitor Students.
Minimize Distractions.
Suppose your students chose the options to a four – alternative multiple – choice item.
Let C as the correct answer.
Item X
A. 3 C* 18
B. 0 D. 9
How does this information help us? Is the item too difficult/easy for the students? Are the distractors of
the items effective?
Guide questions in quantitative item analysis
1.What is the difficulty level?
2.What is the discrimination index?
3.Should this item be eliminated?
4.Should any distractor(s) be modified
Discrimination Index
Options A B C D
Upper 1 0 11 3
Lower 2 0 7 6
MISKEYING
Most students who did well on the test will likely select an option that is a distractor, rather than the
option that is keyed.
GUESSING
A B C* D
Upper Half 4 3 3 3
Ambiguity
Among the upper group, one of the distractors is chosen with about the same frequency as the
correct answer.
A B C D*
Upper Half 7 0 1 7
QUALITATIVE ITEM ANALYSIS
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING 1
CHAPTER 5