Best Practices

Plausibility in MC Questions

A good multiple-choice question is characterized by how plausible the distractors, or misleading options, of a question are. In the section " ", we asked about the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate. All the cities mentioned have in common that they belong to Rhineland-Palatinate. If the range had been extended to neighboring cities from other states, such as Mannheim, the question would have been slightly easier to answer. Including notorious cities across the Federal Republic would allow further distractors to be eliminated.

An example:

Which artist is known for the fresco "The School of Athens"?
a) Botticelli
b) Michelangelo
c) Raphael
d) Perugino
e) Da Vinci

Regarding the plausibility and homogeneity of the answer choices, this is a good question. All answer options are plausible and homogeneous (Italian painters, active in similar periods, and could potentially be responsible for the fresco). Clues to the solution are not derivable (except that the answer is c) and in the middle, which should not be the case too often in additional questions).

Clarity in MC Questions

Each of the answer options could be written out in a sentence. However, this also tests reading comprehension, which is not intended to be tested. Thus, an unnecessary hurdle must be overcome. Furthermore, the first variant offers time advantages for both educators and students.