Multiple choice

Multiple choice questions are easily created, and are easy for participants to understand. To avoid misunderstandings, the question and alternatives must be expressed clearly. The questions should be designed to test the learning objectives of the subject, and not details associated with the subject matter. Questions should be recognised as being relevant to the goals of the course.

One of the disadvantages of multiple choice questions is that participants incapable of answering a particular question can simply select a random answer and still have a chance of answering correctly. However, in itslearning the risk of this can be minimised by using the scoring method with penalty. When using this scoring method, incorrect answers are penalised with a minus score. This option is set in the test options.

Advantages

• Scoring is easy and can be performed automatically by itslearning.
• The questions are easy to make, but it can be a challenge to create good questions.
• If the question is clearly expressed it may not discriminate participants with, for example, poor reading skills. The use of pictures and multimedia can also be helpful in creating questions for participants with poor reading skills.

Disadvantages

• The construction of good test questions requires special care and is therefore time-consuming.
• It is difficult to test creativity.
• Participants can select answers randomly.

Questions and alternatives

Multiple choice questions consist of two parts: A question and a given number of alternatives. You can use text, pictures, video and flash in both questions and alternatives. To add multiple choice questions, enter a test and click the Questions tab. Click Add, and select Multiple choice from the drop-down list.

Traditionally it has been common to use three alternatives in multiple choice questions, but it may be a good idea to use more alternatives. Four alternatives are considered by many to be the optimal number of alternatives.

Creating good distracters

In order to create a good multiple choice test, it is also important to create good distracters (the alternatives that are incorrect). If the distracters are poor, participants have few problems selecting the correct answer. Take a look at the example below:

To answer this question you actually have to know that bronze is an alloy and not a chemical element. You cannot easily eliminate, as all the alternatives are metals. Now, take a look at a similar question, now with other alternatives:

Here it is fairly easy to deduce that "bronze" is the correct alternative.

1. Enter a test.
2. Click the Questions tab.
3. Click Add and select Multiple choice from the drop-down list.
4. Enter a question in the first text field.
5. Enter alternatives in the second text field. Enter one alternative in each field. If you need more fields, click Add alternative.
6. If you have decided to show feedback after each alternative, you will see a Feedback field. Enter the feedback in the feedback field after each alternative. Note: This function is enabled in Edit test >> Options >> Use feedback.
7. Check the correct alternative in the Correct column. You can only select one alternative.
8. If you have enabled categories, select a category from the drop-down list.
9. It is optional whether to click Preview. By clicking the preview button, you see a preview of the finished question.
10. Click Save.

Preview
Before you save a question, itslearning allows you to preview it. To preview the question, click Preview. By clicking the preview link, you can see the question from the participants' perspective. Submit an answer to see how the feedback looks for a correct and incorrect answer. Click the Back link to continue editing the question.

1. Click on a test.
2. Click the Questions tab.
3. Click on the question you want to edit.
4. Make your changes.
5. Click Save.

1. Click on a test.
2. Click the Questions tab.
3. Select the question you want to delete by checking the box in front of the question.
4. Click Delete question.