ASSESSMENT OF ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS

Shiela Dona B. SillanCCT – Assessment of Learning

July 16, 2013

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CONSTRUCTING QUESTIONS Construct questions that test

HIGHER LEVEL PROCESSES SUCH AS

ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS EVALUATION CREATIVITY

ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS WHY/HOW TYPE QUESTIONS TEST

HIGHER ORDER THINKING PROCESSES/SKILLS

ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS AND INDEPENDENT THINKING TEACHER MUST: GIVE REGULAR

PRACTICE IN ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE SKILLS

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSRUCTION OF ESSAY TESTS ASK QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE

EXAMINEE TO SHOW PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC TASKS E.G. SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION

MAKE QUESTIONS AS EXPLICIT AS POSSIBLE

TEST CONSTRUCTOR SHOULD PREPARE IDEAL ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS

INTIMATE THE EXAMINEE ABOUT DESIRED LENGTH OF THE ANSWERS

CONT…

TEST CONSTRUCTOR SHOULD GET HIS TEST REVIEWED BY ONE OR MORE COLLEAGUES

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE CLEARLY WORDED SO THAT ALL EXAMINEES INTERPRET THEM IN THE SAME WAY AS THE EXAMINER WANTS

SUGGESTIONS FOR SCORING ESSAY TESTS PREPARE SCORING GUIDE IN THE

FORM OF OUTLINE PARTICULAR QUESTION SHOULD BE

SCORED AT ONE TIME FOR ALL THE EXAMINEES

IDENTITY OF THE EXAMINEE SHOULD NOT BE COMMUNICATED TO THE EXAMINER

IF POSSIBLE APPOINT MORE THAN ONE EXAMINERS. THE EXAMINERS SHOULD NOT KNOW WHO IS THE OTHER EXAMINER

CONT...

THE SUBJECT MATTER SHOULD BE SCORED SEPARATELY FROM GOOD HANDWRITING, BETTER LANGUAGE.

IF THEY ARE TO BE GIVEN ANY WEIGHT, IT SHOULD BE CLEARLY INDICATED

SCORING ESSAY TESTS

SIMPLE SCORING SCHEME TESTS CONTENT OF THE ESSAY

DEATAILED SCORING TESTS CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, PROCESS OR OTHER FACTORS DESIRED

THE RATING METHOD GRADES ARE BASED ON GLOBAL IMPRESSION OF THE WHOLE RESPONSE

HOLISTIC SCORING SYSTEMHolistic scoring is used for EXTENDEDESSAY TESTS OR TERM PAPERS

It estimates the OVERALL QUALITY OFPERFORMANCE AND ASSIGNS NUMERICAL VALUE TO THE QUALITY TESTED RATHER THAN GIVING POINTS

TO SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE.

RATING SCALE FOR ESSAYS QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF

IDEAS1 2 3 4

DETAILS UNRELATED TO FACTS ATTENTION TO FACTS RELEVANT DETAILS

LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS

ORGANIZATION OF IDEAS STYLE, INDIVIDUALITY WORDING AND PHRASING

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:1. Phrase the direction in such a

way that students are guided on key concepts to be included.

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:2. Inform the student on the criteria

to be used for grading their essays. This rule allows the students to focus on relevant and substantive materials rather than on peripherals and unnecessary facts and bits of information.a. Coherence b. accuracy of statement c. Use of keywords

d. Clarity e. Extra points for innovative

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:3. Put a time limit on the essay test

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:4. Decide on your essay grading

system prior to getting the essays of your student.

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:5. Evaluate all of the students

answer to one question before proceeding to next question.

Halo effect in grading

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:6. Evaluation answers to essay

questions without knowing the identity of the writer.

Rules of thumbs which facilitate the scoring of essays:7. Whenever possible, have two or

more persons grade each answer.

THANK YOUTO GOD BE THE GLORY