CHECKLIST TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF AN OBJECTIVE TEST ITEM.

The document is divided into the following sections:

Section 1: is a checklist for determining the quality of a matching test item.

Section 2: is a checklist for determining the quality of a completion test item.
Section 3: is a checklist for determining the quality of a true or false test item.
Section 4: is a checklist for determining the quality of a multiple choice test item.

INSTRUCTIONS:

(a) If you would like to determine the quality either a matching test item, a completion test item, a
true or false test item or a multiple choice test item, go to the corresponding section of the
document.

(b) Answer either yes or no in the shaded boxes on the right side of the table.

(c) If you have answered yes to all questions in section 1, 2 and 4, then you must know that your
test item is of a good quality.

(d) If you have answered no to question 1 or 2 in section 3, then you must know that your test
item is not of a good quality.

SECTION 1 – CHECKLIST FOR A MATCHING TEST ITEM.

Yes No
1 Is the description fairly short?
2 Is the list of options fairly short?
3 Is the list of options homogeneous?
4 Are all options plausible distracters for the description?
5 Is the description numbered?
6 Are options in the list identified by a letter?

SECTION 2 – CHECKLIST FOR A COMPLETION TEST ITEM.

Yes No
1 Does the item require a single-word answer?
2 Is the language used precise?
3 Is the language used accurate?
4 Is the item worded in such a way that the blank is near the end of the
statement?
5 If the statement requires a numerical answer, are the units in which it
should be expressed indicated?

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SECTION 3 – CHECKLIST FOR A TRUE OR FALSE TEST ITEM.

Yes No
1 Is the statement definitely true? If your answer is yes, then proceed to
number 3.If no, then go to 2.
2 Is the statement definitely false?
3 Is the use of double negatives avoided in the statement?
4 Is the sentence not complex?
5 Have verbal clues been avoided?
6 Is the use of absolutes such as never, only and always been avoided
in the statement?
7 Has the use of indefinite degrees such as large, long time and
regularly been avoided?
8 Is the statement relatively short?

SECTION 4 – CHECKLIST FOR A MULTIPLE-CHOICE ITEM.

Yes No
1 Is the stem of the item clearly formulated?
2 Is there only one correct answer?
3 Are the distracters plausible?
4 Is the stem without grammatical clues?
5 Are the distracters without grammatical clues?
6 Does the item include at least four to five options?
7 Is the use of the option “none of the above” avoided?
8 Is the use of the option “all of the above” avoided?