TEST CONSTRUCTION

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lecture, the students with 90%

accuracy can:
1. Define a test?
2. explain the different types of tests,
3. apply the general principles in constructing a test;
4. differentiate objective from subjective test;
5. differentiate supply and selection test; and
6. construct samples of test types.
Definition of a Test
 A series of questions or
exercises
 A tool to assess students’
learning
 Integral part of the teaching
learning process
Different Types of Test

1. Objective

Selection Test
a. Multiple Choice
b. Matching Type
c. True or False
Supply Test
a. Completion Statement Type
b. Identification
c. Simple Recall
2. Subjective Test

1. Restricted Essay
2. Extended Response Essay
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
IN CONSTRUCTING A
TEST
1. The test should be selected
very carefully.
2. The test should have an
extensive sampling of items.
3. Test item should be
independent.
4. . Avoid lifting sentences from
the textbooks.
5. Majority of the test item should be of
moderate difficulty, few difficult, and few
easy items
7. Arrange the test items in ascending
difficulty.
8. Precede all types of test with clear,
concise, and complete directions.
9. The test should emphasize the ability to
apply and use facts a well as knowledge of
facts.
10. Time to finish the test should be
considered.
11. Provide information on how scoring
will be done.
 TWO TYPES OF OBJECTIVE
TEST
1. Selection type
2. Supply type
1. SELECTION TYPE
A. Multiple Choice
 Contains a question or a stem, a
problem or unfinished sentence
followed by several responses
 It suits to measure all instructional
objectives in the cognitive domain
 It can measure knowledge or
higher order thinking skills
Types of multiple choice
test
1. Stimulus Material-Stem Option
2. Stem-options (positive or negative stem)

Example:
The following are polygon EXCEPT_________.
A. triangle
B. ellipse
C. hexagon
D. octagon
4. Best answer
5. Correct answer
6. Contained option ( Identifying error)
Directions: Identify the error in the sentence.
Underline the letter of the underlined sentence
part with error. Underline letter E if the sentence
has no error
1. The circumference of a circle is greater than
A B C

or equal to 2∏r. No. Error

D E
 GUIDELINES
1. Each item should be clearly stated in
question, description, or incomplete
sentence.
2. Do not provide grammatical or
contextual clues to the correct
answer.
3. Use words that even the poorest
reader can understand.
4. Write a correct or best answer and
several plausible distracters.
5. Each alternative response should fit
the stem in order to avoid giving clues
to its correctness.
6. Refrain from using negative or
double negatives.
7. Use all of the above and none of the
above only when they contribute
more than other plausible
distracters
8. Do not use item directly taken from
the textbook. Test for
understanding.
9. Be sure that the position of the
correct alternate varies.
10. Items need to be independent of
one another.
11. Use negative questions or
statement only if the knowledge
being tested requires it.
12. Include three to five options
13. Arrange the options having
natural orders
Sample Multiple choice test

DIRECTION: Encircle the letter of the

correct answer.
1. The basic unit of life is ___________.
A. atom
B. cell
C. molecule
D. gene
2. It is a tool used to determine
students’ learning.
a. Assessment
b. Evaluation
c. Measurement
d. Test
 Multiple Choice (with Taxonomy sample)

 Remembering

1. Which of the statements defines

an integer?
a. It is any real number.
b. It consists of a fraction and
whole number.
c. It is a whole number and its
negative counterpart.
d. All of the above
 Understanding
Explain the importance of livestock
production

2. Why is livestock production important?

a. It provides food supply for human
consumption
b. It provides food products for the
consumption of few families
c. It provides food to be
exported.
d. It provides food supply in
the rural areas.
 Applying

3. Simplify 2x+3y-5y+3x=0

a. x-y
b. 5x+8y
c. 5x-2y
d. None of these
 Analyzing
What happens to the equation y=x+5 when
x is negative, that is y=-x+5?
a. It will be facing upward.
b. It will be facing downward.
c. They will become parallel lines.
d. None of the following.
B. Matching Type
DIRECTION: Match the names of well-known
curriculum evaluators in Column A with their
evaluation models in column B. You can use the
letter once or more than once. Write only the letter
of the correct answer on the space provided.
A B
___1. Consumer Oriented A. Michael Scriven
Method
___2. Responsive Model B. Daniel Stufflebeam
___3. CIIP Model C. Robert Stake
___4. Goal Free Model D. Ralph Tyler
C. True or False
 DIRECTIONS: Write T if the statement
is true and write F if the statement is
false. Write your answer on the blank
provided.
______1. Archimedes is the Father of
Sciences.
______2. Leonhard Euler is the father of
Trigonometry.
______3. sin x + cos x = 1.
Guide
1.Balance between true and false items
2. Double negative should be avoided.
3. Long and complex statements should
not be used as they measure reading
comprehension.
4. Clues should be avoided.
5. Statement should not be taken
directly from the textbook.
6. Do not make true items longer than
false.
7. Refrain from creating pattern of
response.
8. Present similar number of true and false
statement
9. Avoid using the word always, never or
often.
2. SUPPLY TEST

Completion statement Type

 incomplete sentence
 Develops students’ cognitive
aspects
 Knowledge
 Recall
 Answer is fixed and convergent
A. Sentence completion

1. Best to use only one blank

2. The blank should be placed at
the end of the sentence
3. Give clear instructions indicating
whether synonyms will be correct
and whether spelling will be a
factor in scoring
4. Be definite enough for an
incomplete sentence so that only one
correct answer is possible.
5. Avoid using direct statement from
the textbooks with a word or words
missing.
6. All blanks in every item should be
equal in length to accommodate the
longest response.
7. Avoid grammatical clues to the
correct answer.
8. When requiring for numerical
answer, specify the precision of
the answer you want and the
units to be used.
9. If possible, items should
require single word answer
 EXAMPLE
DIRECTION: Fill in the missing part of the
sentence of the correct answer.

1. The hardest element is __________.

B. Identification

 It presents a brief description and

the students has to identify what
it is.
 GUIDE:
1. The direction of the test should indicate
clearly what has to be identified.
2. Sufficient space has to be provided for the answer
of each item.
3. The question should not be copied from the
textbooks
4. Do not provide grammatical clue to the correct
answer.
5. Question can be stated in the declarative or
interrogative sentence.
6. Be sure that the question unequivocal.
7. The blanks for the answer should have equal
length and should be placed after each item.
C. Simple Recall
 Direct question /statement is
presented for the student to answer
using word or phrase.
GUIDELINES:

1. Response is brief, usually a

word, number or symbol,
2. The fixed answer is
expected.
3. The blank should be after
each item.
4. The blank should be equal in
length.
Examples
Directions: Answer the following
questions directly. Write your
answer on the space provided
after each item.
1. Who is the main character in the
story? _________________
2. A type of test that contains
premises and responses.
_________________
SUBJECTIVE TEST
(ESSAY TEST)
 Compose a paragraph
Measures HOTS
Brings out authentic
ideas
TWO TYPES OF SUBJECTIVE
TEST
1. Brief or Restricted Essay
 Requires limited answer
 Responds to an unfamiliar
problem by recalling relevant
concepts, facts, and
principles, organizes ideas
and writes coherent response.
2. Extended-response essays
 Questions are more complex
requiring longer responses
 Guide:
1. Avoid open-ended question
2. Let all the students answer the same
questions and avoid choices
3. Assign number to students during
checking
4. Allow adequate time to answer the
questions.
5. The question must be complete and
clear.
Restricted Essay
DIRECTION: Answer the
following questions concisely
(5 pts.)

What are some algebraic expressions not

polynomial? Elaborate using two examples.
Extended Response Essay
DIRECTION: Answer accordingly. 5 points
each
1. If you were asked to change the list of
mangrove vegetation in the box below.
What changes would you do and why?
2. Based in your observation, what
vegetation are found in the mangrove
forest?
3. Why do you think vegetation in the
mangrove forest important?
Type of Essay Test Item Examples of Complex learning
outcomes that can be
Measured
Restricted Response Essay Items Ability to:
• Explain cause-effect
relationship
• Describe application of
principles
• Formulate valid explanation
• Enumerate and explain
• Explain methods and
procedure
Extended Response Essay Items Ability to:
• Organize ideas
• Integrate learning
• Design an experiment
• Evaluate the worth of ideas
Assignment
Construct a sample test (50 points)
with the following types:
1. Objective Type ( combination of 2 or more
objective types, 40 items, 1 point each)
2. Subjective Type (2 questions, 5 points
each.)

Deadline: April 14
More Instructions:

1. Use A4 bond paper, 1 inch margin on 4 sides, 1.5 spacing, Font:

Calibre, Size: 12 (Do not use the back side of the paper.)
2. Include what test is being administered.
(e.g. Chapter Test in Math 8, 1st Periodical Exam, Prelim Exam,
Midterm or Final, etc.)
3. Include name, Year/Section, score in the format: Below is a sample.

Chapter Test in Science 1

Name: __________________________ Year/Section:______________ Score____________

Test 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE

DIRECTION: Encircle the letter of your chosen answer. (1 point each)