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Short Answer Items

Short answer items are assessment questions that require students to provide a short response, such as a word, phrase, number or symbol. They are used to test basic knowledge and understanding of a topic. Good short answer questions are clear, precise, and have a single correct answer. They allow for content coverage but require careful wording to avoid ambiguity. While easier to create than essays, short answers are best for factual recall and may encourage rote learning if not designed properly.

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91 views

Short Answer Items

Short answer items are assessment questions that require students to provide a short response, such as a word, phrase, number or symbol. They are used to test basic knowledge and understanding of a topic. Good short answer questions are clear, precise, and have a single correct answer. They allow for content coverage but require careful wording to avoid ambiguity. While easier to create than essays, short answers are best for factual recall and may encourage rote learning if not designed properly.

Uploaded by

BS IT
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Defence Degree College for

women

Name: Iqra Aurangzaib


Class: BS IT (F19)
Subject: Assessment in Education
Submitted to: Miss Aneela
Short Answer Items

Definition:

Short answers items require the examinee to respond to the item with a
word, short phrase, number or a symbol.

Classification:

Short-answer Items are open-ended Items that require students to create


an answer. They are commonly used in examinations to assess the basic
knowledge and understanding (low cognitive levels) of a topic before
more in-depth assessment Items are asked on the topic.
Short Answer Items do not have a generic structure. Items may require
answers such as complete the sentence, supply the missing word, short
descriptive or qualitative answers, diagrams with explanations etc. The
answer is usually short, from one word to a few lines. Often students
may answer in bullet form.

They are commonly used in examinations to assess the basic knowledge


and understanding of a topic before more in-depth assessment Items are
asked.

Example:

Q 1) MHz measures the _________________ of the computer.

Q 2) List the different types of plastic surgery procedures.

Q 3) In economics, state Gresham�s Law.

Characteristics:

 The test has supply response rather than select or identify


 In the form question or incomplete statement
 The test can be answered by a word, a phrase, a number or symbol.

Forms of Short Answers Items

 Question form
 Identification or association form
 Completion form

How to design a good Short


Answer Question?
1) Design short answer items which are
appropriate assessment of the learning objective.

2) Make sure the content of the SAQs measures knowledge


appropriate to the desired learning goal.

3) Make the questions clear and easy to understand with


wordings and language appropriate to the student
population.
4) Set the questions explicitly and precisely with clear
instructions to test the desired knowledge and get the
specific response.

5) Ensure that the item clearly specifies how the question


should be answered.

Example

Family planning methods most appropriate for adolescents


are:
a._______________, b. _______________

6) Instructions and teacher’s expectations about filling in blanks


should be made clear.

7) Direct questions are better than those which require


completing the sentences.

Example:

Poor: Wellington defeated Napoleon in _____ ?


Better: In what year did Wellington defeat
Napoleon at Waterloo?

8) Prepare a structured marking sheet.

9) Make the marking sheet easy to understand so that other


teachers can use it if necessary.

10) Ensure there is only one clearly correct answer in each


question.

Advantages of Short Answer Items

 SAQs are relatively easy to set compared to


many assessment methods.

 They are relatively fast to mark and can be


marked by different assessors, as long as the Items are set in
such a way that all alternative answers can be considered by
the assessors.
 Better content coverage as compared to long essay question.

 Improved objectivity as the marking scheme can be


structured and predetermined.

 Higher chance for assessment of clinical reasoning.

Disadvantages of Short Answer


items

 SAQs are only suitable for questions


that can be answered with short
responses.

 There can be difficulties in grading if the question is


not worded carefully.

 As they are typically used for assessing


knowledge only, students may often memorize
SAQs with rote learning.
 If assessors wish to use SAQs to assess deeper learning,
careful attention (and many practices) on appropriate
questions are required.

 Also, if a large amount of knowledge needs to be tested, it is


more efficient to use MCQs.

 There can be time management issues as SAQs are not as


easy to complete or score as MCQ or true-false questions.

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