Test Items in

Mathematics
Assessment
Prepared by:

Shella Mae O.
Manog
&
(Essay)
Carlo jay T.
Maynagcot
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students
should be able to:

a. Understand Essay,
b. Define Restricted Essay and Non-
Restricted Essay and;
c. Identify the Advantages and
Disadvantage of Essay Item.
Supply type of test
-known as constructed response test.
-Consist of a stem and a blank.
-require student to produce their own answer or
perform certain task.
Essay
 Derived from French word “essayer” which means “to try” or
“to attempt”.
 Is a form of subjective test.
 Consist of a few number of questions wherein the examinee is
expected to demonstrate the ability to recall, organize, and
present knowledge in logical and integrated answer.
 it is more in writing one or more paragraph on a specific topic.
 test higher level thinking.
Writing Essay Questions
1. Comparing
-Differentiate between routine and non-routine
problems…
-Compare the following methods for
2. Relating cause and effect
-What are the major causes of….
-What would be the most likely effects of…
Writing Essay Questions
3. Justifying
-Which of the following problem solving strategies or
methods would you use and why?
-Explain why you agree or disagree with the following
statement.
4. Summarizing
-State the points included in..
-Briefly summarize the contents of…
Writing Essay Questions
5. Generalizing
-Formulate several valid generalizations from the
following data.
-State the Polya’s problem solving steps.
6. Inferring
-In the light of the facts presented, what is most likely to
happen when..
-How many Dorsu student could be expected to have a
bachelor’s degree or higher?
Writing Essay Questions

7. Classifying
-Group the following items according to..
-What do the following items have in common?
8. Applying
-Is there a link between the golden ratio and how we
perceive beauty in nature, with special emphasis on the
human face and form.
-Solve the solution set of the equation x2+5x-24=0 using
factoring method.
Writing Essay Questions
9. Analyzing
-What is the best estimate of…
-What is unknown in the problem
10. Evaluating
-Evaluate trigonometric functions…
-Describe the significance of problem solving in
teaching and learning of mathematics.
Writing Essay Questions
11. Creating
-Design a plan to prove that…
-Formulate a hypothesis about the “Mathematics attitude
and competency levels of the education students of
Dorsu.”…
Types of Essay Items

a. Extended/Non-restricted Essays
-Determine the length and complexity of the
response (Kubiszyn and Borich, 2007).
-Assessing the synthesis and evaluation skills of the
students.
Example of Extended/Unrestricted Essay
Questions:
1. What is the legacy of Archimedes’ calculations of circular and
parabolic areas in today’s methods integration? Justify your
answer.
2. Explain problem solving strategies or method. Include in your
answer the following.
a. Give an example from your personal experienced in
mathematician
b. Discuss the significance of problem solving in teaching and
learning of mathematics.
Types of Essay Items
b. Restricted Essay
-focused on short response.
-place strict limits on both content and the response.
Example of restricted Essay Questions:
1.It is possible for a logarithmic equation to have more
than one extraneous solution? Explain in not more than
3 sentences.
2.What is your favorite theorem in mathematics?
Confine your answer to one page.
 Guidelines for the Formulation and
Scoring Essay Test
Rule 1: Specify how the students should respond.
Rule 2: Inform the students on the criteria to be used for
grading their essays.
Rule 3: Put a time on the essay test,
Rule 4: Decide on your essay grading system prior to getting
the essays of your students.
Rule 5: Evaluate all of the student’s answers to one question
before proceeding to the next question.
Guidelines for the Formulation and
Scoring Essay Test
Rule 6: Evaluate answers to essay questions without
knowing the identity of the writer.
Rule 7: Whenever possible, have two or more persons grade
each answer.
Rule 8: Do not provide optional question.
Rule 9: Provide information about the value/weight of the
question and how it will be scored.
Rule 10: Emphasize higher level thinking skills.
 Advantages of Essay Test
1. It is easier to prepare and less time consuming
compared to other paper and pencil test.
2. It measured higher-order thinking skills (Analysis, synthesis,
and evaluation)
3. It allows students freedom to express individuality in
answering the given question.
4. The students have a chance to express their own ideas in
order to plan their awn answer.
5. It reduces guessing answer compared into any of objective
type of test.
6. It presents more realistic task to the student.
7. It emphasizes on the integration and application of ideas.
 Disadvantages of Essay Test
1.It cannot provide an objectives measure of the achievement
of a students.
2.It needs so much time to grade and prepare scoring criteria.
3.The scores are usually not reliable most especially without
scoring criteria.
4.It measures limited amount of content and objectives.
Low variation of scores.
5.It usually encourages bluffing.
 Suggestions for Grading Essay Test
(Zimmaro, 2003)
1. Decide on a policy for dealing with incorrect, irrelevant or illegal
responses.
2. Keep scores of the previously read items out of sight.
3. The student’s identity should remain anonymous while his/her paper
is being graded.
4. Read and evaluate each student’s answer to the same question
before grading the nest question.
5. Provide students with general grading criteria by which they will be
evaluated prior to the examination.
6. Use analytic scoring or holistic scoring.
7. Answer test question yourself by writing the ideal answer to it.
8. Write your comments on their papers.
Thank you!....