As you begin thinking about test or paper questions it is important to keep in mind your curriculum, the level at which you teach, and your goals for the course. Tests should be consistent with the material and the skills you have taught students. It should not ask the students to perform high level synthesis or to analyze a statement critically. In this particular example, then, a multiple choice or short answer exam is a more appropriate choice than an essay exam. Choosing an appropriate test format Different types of tests are appropriate for evaluating different levels of thinking and types of material.
Tests can also serve the function of defining and reinforcing the goals of a course.
Students' expectations about tests affect how they study and process information. If, for example, students expect to take a multiple choice test, they will tend to focus less on the speculative aspects of the discipline and more on what the discipline currently accepts as fact. So when considering your options, choose the test that best matches the level and content of the course and that best models the kind of thinking you want to encourage in your students. Multiple choice questions may inhibit speculation, complex thinking, and exploration of alternative viewpoints. Students can, however, be called upon to demonstrate higher levels of reasoning by writing justifications for their choices in the margins.