Types of Question Formats in Assessments

Question Types

Multiple Choice Questions

• Also known as multi-option or select-type questions
• Present a question or prompt with 3-5 possible answers
• Test taker selects one answer from the options
• Can be used to test recall, comprehension, and application of knowledge

True or False Questions

• Present a statement that is either true or false
• Test taker indicates whether the statement is true or false
• Useful for testing recall of factual information

Short Answer Questions

• Require test taker to provide a brief written response
• May be used to test recall, comprehension, or application of knowledge
• Often used to assess understanding of concepts or processes

Essay Questions

• Require test taker to provide an extended written response
• Often used to assess higher-level thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
• May be used to test understanding of complex concepts or topics

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

• Present a sentence or phrase with a blank space
• Test taker fills in the blank with the correct answer
• Useful for testing recall of specific terms or concepts

Matching Questions

• Present two lists of items and ask test taker to match corresponding items
• Often used to test recall of relationships between concepts or terms
• Can be used to assess understanding of categorization or classification

Open-Ended Questions

• Do not provide a set of possible answers
• Test taker must generate their own response
• Often used to assess creativity, critical thinking, or problem-solving skills

Question Types

• Multiple Choice Questions: present a question or prompt with 3-5 possible answers, test recall, comprehension, and application of knowledge.

Characteristics of Question Types

• True or False Questions: present a statement that is either true or false, test recall of factual information.
• Short Answer Questions: require a brief written response, test recall, comprehension, or application of knowledge, often assess understanding of concepts or processes.

Types of Written Response Questions

• Essay Questions: require an extended written response, assess higher-level thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, test understanding of complex concepts or topics.

Filling in the Blanks

• Fill-in-the-Blank Questions: present a sentence or phrase with a blank space, test recall of specific terms or concepts.

Matching and Open-Ended Questions

• Matching Questions: present two lists of items, test taker matches corresponding items, test recall of relationships between concepts or terms, assess understanding of categorization or classification.
• Open-Ended Questions: do not provide a set of possible answers, test taker generates their own response, assess creativity, critical thinking, or problem-solving skills.