Assessment of Learning Module 1 5
Assessment of Learning Module 1 5
test construction
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Development of paper – and - pencil tests requires careful planning and
expertise in terms of actual test construction. The more seasoned teachers can
produce true – false items that can test even higher order thinking skills and not just
rote memory learning. Essays are easier to construct than the other types of
objective tests but the difficulty with which paper – and – pencil tests grades are
derived from essay examinations often discourage teachers from using this particular
form of examination in actual practice.
Knowledge / Remembering
The students must be able to identify the subject and the
verb in a given sentence.
Comprehension / Understanding
The students must be able to determine the appropriate
form of a verb to be used given the subject of a sentence.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Application / Applying
The students must be able to write sentences observing
rules on subject-verb agreement.
Analysis / Analysing
The students must be able to break down a given sentence
into its subject and predicate.
Evaluation / Evaluating
The students must be able to evaluate whether or not a
sentence observes rules on subject-verb agreement.
Synthesis / Creating
The students must be able to formulate rules to be
followed regarding subject-verb agreement.
The test objectives guide the kind of objective tests that will be
designed and constructed by the teacher. For instance, for the first
four (4) levels, we may want to construct a multiple-choice type of test
while for application and judgment, we may opt to give an essay test or a
modified essay test.
(d) Number of items and percentage out of the total for that
particular objective
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
A PROTOTYPE TABLE is shown below:
In the table of specifications we see that there are five items that deal with
knowledge and these items are items 1, 3,5,7,9. Similarly, from the same table we see
that five items represent analysis, namely: 11, 15,18,21,23. The first five levels of
Bloom’s taxonomy are equally represented in the test while synthesis (tested through
essay) is weighted equivalent to ten (10) points or double the weight given to any of
the first four (4) levels. The Table of Specifications guides the teacher in formulating
the test. As we can see, the TOS also ensures that each of the objectives in the
hierarchy of educational objectives is well represented in the test. As such, the
resulting test that will be constructed by the teacher will be more or less
comprehensive. Without the Table of Specifications, the tendency for the test maker
is to focus too much on facts and concepts at the knowledge level.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
CONSTRUCTING THE TEST ITEMS
The actual construction of the test items follows the TOS. As a general
rule, it is advised that the actual number of items to be constructed in
the draft should be double the desired number of items. For instance, if
there are five (5) knowledge level items to be included in the final test
form, then at least ten (10) knowledge level items should be included in
the draft. The subsequent test try-out and item analysis will most likely
eliminate many of the constructed items in the draft (either they are
too difficult, too easy or non-discriminatory), hence, it will be necessary
to construct more items than will actually be included in the final test
form.
Most often, however, the try-out is not done due to lack of time.
o validity
o reliability, and
o practicality
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Binomial - choice or alternate response tests are tests that have only
two (2) options such as true or false, right or wrong, yes or no, good or
better, check ( ) or cross out (x) and so on. A student who knows
nothing of the content of the examination would have 50% chance of
getting the correct answer by sheer guess work. Although correction-
for-guessing formulas exist, it is best that the teacher ensure that a
true-false item is able to discriminate properly between those who
know and those who just guessing. A modified true-false test can
offset the effect of guessing by requiring students to explain their
answer and to disregard a correct answer if the explanation is
incorrect.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Avoid using the words <always=, <never=, <often= and other
words that tend to be either always true or always false.
The first part of the sentence is true but the second part
is debatable and may, in fact, be false. Thus, a <true=
response is correct and also, a <false= response is correct.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Avoid trick statements with some minor misleading word or
spelling anomaly, misplaced phrases, etc.
A wise student who does not know the subject matter may detect
this strategy and thus get the answer correctly.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
With true or false questions, avoid a grossly disproportionate
number of either true or false statements or even patterns in
the occurrence of true and false statements.
1. T 6. F 1. T 6. F
2. F 7. F 2. F 7. T
3. F 8. F or 3. T 8. F
4. F 9. F 4. F 9. T
5. F 10. F 5. T 10. F
Knowledge
Comprehensions’ Application
Analysis
Evaluation
Synthesis
offers the student with more than two (2) options per item to choose from. Each
item in a multiple choice test consists of two parts: (a) the stem, and (b) the options.
In the set of options, there is a <correct= or <best= option while all the others are
considered <distracters=. The distracters are chosen in such a way that they are
attractive to those who do not know the answer or are guessing but at the same time,
have no appeal to those who actually know the answer. It is this feature of multiple
choice type tests that allow the teacher to test higher order thinking skills even if
the options are clearly stated. As in true-false items, there are certain rules of
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Do not use unfamiliar words, terms and phrases.
Do not use modifiers that are vague and whose meanings can
differ from one person to the next such as: much, often,
usually, etc.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Avoid complex or awkward word arrangements. Also, avoid use
of negatives in the stem as this may add unnecessary
comprehension difficulties.
Example:
(Poor) As President of the Republic of the Philippines, Corazon
Cojuangco Aquino would stand next to which President of the
Philippine Republic subsequent to the 1986 EDSA Revolution?
Example:
(Poor) Which of the following will not cause inflation in the
Philippine economy?
Example:
The short story: May Day’s Eve, was written by which Filipino
author?
a. Jose Garcia Villa
b. Nick Joaquin
c. Genoveva Edrosa Matute
d. Robert Frost
e. Edgar Allan Poe
Example.
As compared to the autos of the 1960s autos in the 1980s
________.
A. Travelling slower C. To use less fuel
B. Bigger interiors D. Contain more safety
measures
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
The length, explicitness, or degree of technicality of
alternatives should not be the determinants of the correctness
of the answer.
Example:
If the three angles of two triangles are congruent, then the
triangles are:
a. Congruent whenever one of the sides of the triangles
are congruent.
b. Similar
c. Equiangular and therefore, must also be congruent
d. Equilateral if they are equiangular
The correct choice, <b=, may be obvious from its length and
explicitness alone. The other choices are long and tend to
explain why they must be the correct choices forcing the
students to think that they are, in fact, not the correct
answers!
Example:
a. Who will most strongly disagree with the progressivist who
claims that the child should be taught only that which interests
him and if he is not interested, wait till the child gets
interested?
a. Essentialist c. Progressivist
b. Empiricist d. Rationalist
a. Progressivist c. Perrenialist
b. Essentialist d. Reconstructionist
Example:
What causes ice to transform from solid state to liquid state?
a. Change in temperature
b. Change in pressure
c. Change in the chemical composition
d. Change in heat levels
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Avoid use of unnecessary words or phrases, which are not
relevant to the problem at hand (unless such discriminating
ability is the primary intent of the evaluation).
Example:
The side opposite the thirty degree angle in a right triangle is
equal to half the length of the hypotenuse. If the sine of a 30-
degree is 0.5 and its hypotenuse is 5, what is the length of the
side opposite the 30-degree angle?
a. 2.5
b. 3.5
c. 5.5
d. 1.5
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Pack the question in the stem.
Example:
The Roman Empire ________.
Use the <None of the above= option only when the keyed answer
is totally correct.
Note that use of <all of the above= may allow credit for partial
knowledge.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Better still use <none of the above= and <all of the above=
sparingly. But best not to use them at all.
Example:
(Less Homogeneous)
Thailand is located in:
a. Southeast Asia
b. Eastern Europe
c. South America
d. East Africa
e. Central America
(More homogeneous)
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
QUIZ # 2: Construct a Multiple-Choice Test
C. Prepare a TOS
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
The matching type items may be considered modified multiple choice type
items where the choices progressively reduce as one successfully matches the items
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Here are some guidelines to observe in the formulation of good matching type of
test.
The items are all about the Filipino heroes, nothing more.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
The stem (longer in construction than the options) must be
in the second column while the options (usually shorter)
must be in the second column.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Analyze the matching type of test below. Is this PERFECT (an answer may
not be repeated) matching type of test written in accordance with the guidelines
given?
1. Poly A. Sides
2. Triangle B. Eight-sided polygon
3. Pentagon C. Ten-sided polygon
4. Square D. Close plane figure
5. Decagon E. Irving
6. Hexagon F. James
7. Isosceles Triangle G. Melville
8. Octagon H. Mark Twains (Clemens)
9. Gons I. Wharton
10. Circle J. Many
Matching type items, unfortunately, often test lower order thinking skills
(knowledge level) and are unable to test higher order thinking skills such as
application and judgment skills.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Another type of a matching type of test is the IMPERFECT TYPE.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. The Alhambra A. Cooper
2. The Pioneers B. Dana
3. The Guardian Angel C. Emerson
4. Two Years Before the Mast D. Holmes
5. Moby Dick E. Irving
6. The World in a Man of War F. James
7. The last of the Mohicans G. Melville
8. The American Scholar H. Mark Twains (Clemens)
9. The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table I. Wharton
10. Tom Sawyer
If you intend to make use of this imperfect type of matching test, make
sure you indicate so in the <Direction= to caution the students who usually think
that an answer may not be repeated.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
QUIZ # 3
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Another useful device for testing lower order thinking skills is the supply type
of tests. Like the multiple choice test, the items in this kind of test consist of a
stem and a blank where the students would write the correct answer.
Supply type tests depend heavily on the way the stems are constructed.
These tests allow for one and only one answer and, hence, often test only the
students’ knowledge.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
It is, however, possible to construct supply type of tests that will test higher
Metamorphose: _ _ _ _ _ _
Flourish : _ _ _ _
The appropriate synonym for the first is CHANGE with six (6) letters while
the appropriate synonym for the second is GROW with four (4) letters. Notice that
these questions require not only mere recall of words but also understanding of
these words.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
The following guidelines can help you formulate a completion type of test, the
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK TYPE.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
The blank should be at the end or near the end of the
sentence.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
QUIZ # 4
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Essays, classified as non-objective tests, allow for the assessment of higher
order thinking skills. Such tests require students to organize their thoughts on a
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Describe the similarities and differences between …
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
State the points included in …
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Group the following items according to …
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the
following …
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
It is also referred to as short focused response.
Examples are asking students to <write an example=, <list three
reasons=, or <compare and contrast two techniques=.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Extended responses can be much longer and complex than short
responses, but students are encouraged to remain focused and
organized.
PART A Identify at least two other actions that would make Robert’s
demonstration better.
Source: https://fcit.usf.edu/assessment/constructed/constructb.html
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Phrase the direction in such a way that students are guided
on the key concepts to be included. Specify how the students
should respond.
Example:
Non-example:
Source: https:/fcit.usf.edu/assessment/constructed/constructb.html
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Inform the students on the criteria to be used for grading
their essays.
Example:
(a) Coherence
(b) Accuracy of Statements
(c) Use of keywords
(d) Clarity
(e) Extra points for innovative presentation of
ideas.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Evaluate all of the students’ answers to one question
individual answers.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Evaluate answers to essay questions without knowing the
with them.
place of names.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Whenever possible, have two or more persons grade each
answer.
made.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Do not provide optional questions.
achievement.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
Emphasize higher level thinking skills.
Example:
Non Example:
masses.
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.
QUIZ # 5
REMINDER!
Assessment of Learning 1
Rosita L. Navarro, Ph.D.
Rosita G. Santos, Ph.D.
Brenda B. Corpuz, Ph.D.