3 ms·

Why is an algebra exam multiple choice in the first place?

• throwawayffffas 4y ago
  It's only a part of it that is multiple choice, the "outrage" exists because answering all the multiple choice questions randomly can get you a passing grade. The reason being the passing grade was already low, close to 30% of the entire test and was lowered even more in 2022. There is also some ranting about some cherry-picked questions that are really reading a graph. I had a look at the test linked by another comment, and I have to say the guy is over reacting, the test is age appropriate, the passing score is super low, but so what, I don't even get why the test has a passing score, you could just get a score. Also this is a test for children finishing junior high, there is no reason to have a high bar, it probably does not matter.
• _archon_ 4y ago
  Tests are easier to grade in a multiple choice format, since the grading problem is reduced to a set of circumstances that are friendly to being automated. Nowadays I'm sure it's possible to have a computer OCR the writing, check the algebra, and grade a problem... but it's a lot cheaper and easier to have the test taker choose the answer from a labeled subset and then check their choice against the correct label.