Matching Items

Matching Items
Matching items consists of two columns/lists:

✓Stems/Premises – list of words/short phrases with some

association between the two lists

✓Responses - answers
 Matching Items
A good matching item should function the same as a
series of multiple-choice items. As each premise is
considered, all of the responses should serve as
plausible alternatives.
 Rule :
Include only homogeneous material in each matching items.
Mixing the content tends to provide extra clues.

Poorly Better in its

constructed construction
 Rule :
Keep the list of items short (no more than 10) .

Use a larger or smaller number of responses than premises. Permit

the responses to be used more than once. This will prevent the
finding of answers through elimination.

Specify in the directions the basis for matching and indicate if each
response may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
EXAMPLE
Directions:
Column A contains a list of descriptions of professionals. Column B consists of
the titles of these professionals. Match the description in Column A to the titles
in Column B, by writing the letter on the line to the left of each statement. Each
response in Column B may be used more than once, or not at all.
 Rule :
Place the responses in alphabetical or numerical order. This
allows the candidate to find the answer quickly and efficiently
without giving clues.

Put all the matching item on the same page.

 Variations to basic
structure
EXAMPLE

Master list
A key list is given.
Students are expected to MASTER LIST

match items in the master

key list to the responses
given.
RESPONSES
 Variations to basic
structure

EXAMPLE

Ranking
A list of statements are
given given. Students are
expected to rank each
statement in order.
Choose an appropriate topic from your area
of specialization. Write a series of matching
items (5-10 statements). Be carefully to
adhere to the guidelines for writing matching
items.
 Source
Gronlund, N., Waugh, C. (2009) Assessment of student achievement (9th Ed.). New York:
Pearson.

Richardson, M. (2008) Classroom testing and evaluation (2nd Ed.) New York: Chalkboard Press