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Give Multiple Choice Tests for Learning (Formative Assessment)

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Study Skills & Tools All Ages Strategy

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Verbal Reasoning Verbal Memory Abstract Reasoning Visual Memory

Give Multiple Choice Tests for Learning (Formative Assessment)

If your students don't speak up when they are struggling, and to help reinforce learning for all students

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Regular, low stakes multiple choice quizzes will help the teacher assess what students know, and also reinforce learning and retention for the student.
  2. Teacher Takeaways: Use multiple choice quizzes as a routine activity within learning units as a quick way to gauge what students have learned, and to reinforce the learning for students. Designing a multiple choice quiz for learning might be different from designing for assessment, so keep the following points in mind: a) Design questions to test content knowledge rather than specific levels or depth of mastery. The goal is to have students who know the material select the correct answer, and alert teachers to which students do not have it. b) Within the multiple choice options, include similar but incorrect answers to quickly identify common misunderstandings and misconceptions. c) Give prompt feedback so students who had incorrect answers can quickly correct their thinking.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Short multiple choice quizzes can be an effective way for teachers to assess students' overall grasp of the material and reinforce learning. When they are built in as a routine, low stakes method of assessment, students will not feel so stressed and they can help guide teaching and studying. Structuring the multiple choice questions specific to the goal is important for getting the benefits as a learning tool. The Learning Scientists blog provides more of the research on how to make multiple choice quizzing effective.