If your test includes a section with only two multiple-choice items of 4 alternatives each (a b c d), you can expect 1 out of 16 of your students to correctly answer both items by guessing blindly. On the other hand if a section has 15 multiple-choice items of 4 alternatives each, you can expect only 1 out of 8,670 of your students to score 70% or more on that section by guessing blindly.
So there goes, I'm in deep shit. And there's more, reading this from the veritable peddler of truth -- wikipedia
"Another disadvantage of multiple choice tests is possible ambiguity in the examinee's interpretation of the item. Failing to interpret information as the test maker intended can result in an "incorrect" response, even if the taker's response is potentially valid. The term "multiple guess" has been used to describe this scenario because test-takers may attempt to guess rather than determine the correct answer. A free response test allows the test taker to make an argument for their viewpoint and potentially receive credit. However, free response questions can be similarly ambiguous, and the scoring of a free response it is much more ambiguous than that of multiple choice items.
In addition, even if students have some knowledge of a question, they receive no credit for knowing that information if they select the wrong answer and the item is scored dichotomously. However, free response questions may allow an examinee to demonstrate partial understanding of the subject and receive partial credit."
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What's revolting is not the MCQ per se, but the phrasing of questions by them demigods; add the fact that I don't review my answers for fear of realizing something new and forcing me to change my answers. Darn, primitive me believes that changing answers have 75% chance of being wrong. I now came to realize that this should only qualify those instances where I have no idea of the the correct answer thereby relying on hunch. Hence, the primitive myth must be applied on hunches only, and not when answers can be inferred correctly . This is a habit that I should really be breaking before it breaks me.
"Another disadvantage of multiple choice tests is possible ambiguity in the examinee's interpretation of the item. Failing to interpret information as the test maker intended can result in an "incorrect" response, even if the taker's response is potentially valid. The term "multiple guess" has been used to describe this scenario because test-takers may attempt to guess rather than determine the correct answer. A free response test allows the test taker to make an argument for their viewpoint and potentially receive credit. However, free response questions can be similarly ambiguous, and the scoring of a free response it is much more ambiguous than that of multiple choice items.
In addition, even if students have some knowledge of a question, they receive no credit for knowing that information if they select the wrong answer and the item is scored dichotomously. However, free response questions may allow an examinee to demonstrate partial understanding of the subject and receive partial credit."
x-x-x
What's revolting is not the MCQ per se, but the phrasing of questions by them demigods; add the fact that I don't review my answers for fear of realizing something new and forcing me to change my answers. Darn, primitive me believes that changing answers have 75% chance of being wrong. I now came to realize that this should only qualify those instances where I have no idea of the the correct answer thereby relying on hunch. Hence, the primitive myth must be applied on hunches only, and not when answers can be inferred correctly . This is a habit that I should really be breaking before it breaks me.
