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>> "Note the biggest change from today: none of these are multiple-choice tests." In the UK, at least where I live, none of our tests are multiple choice. I've

>> "Note the biggest change from today: none of these are multiple-choice tests." In the UK, at least where I live, none of our tests are multiple choice. I've always wondered why in the US tests are given in this format. It seems very dumbed down. Is there a valid reason?

michaelt 13y ago
As I understand it the American educational tradition uses more frequent, shorter tests known as 'quizzes' - sometimes as often as for every class, every week. Benefits of this approach include giving teachers fast feedback on whether students are understanding what they're being taught; and spreading the test workload evenly across the year instead of having a bunch of big make-or-break exams at the end of the year, within days of one another. Using multiple choice tests which can be marked automatically makes it simpler to do this as they can be marked by machine. Multiple choice with automated marking also means you don't have to decipher students' bad handwriting; you can't recognise students' writing and apply subconscious favouritism; you have to ask questions with unambiguously right answers; it's simple to be consistent with marking; and rates of human error are reduced. With that said, you can't teach someone to write an essay without having them write an essay and giving them feedback; and you can't check a student's math problem working and point out where they make a mistake. So multiple choice tests certainly aren't the be-all and end-all of student evaluation.
polymatter 13y ago
easier, cheaper and more objective marking probably. multiple choice doesn't mean dumbed down. indeed, it can be much harder since you can't show working or explain reasons. It turns into an exercise of guessing the password (http://lesswrong.com/lw/iq/guessing_the_teachers_password/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/iq/guessing_the_teachers_password/) rather than demonstrating any real learning has taken place. This can be hard to guess even if you know the material in question.

michaelt 13y ago

As I understand it the American educational tradition uses more frequent, shorter tests known as 'quizzes' - sometimes as often as for every class, every week. Benefits of this approach include giving teachers fast feedback on whether students are understanding what they're being taught; and spreading the test workload evenly across the year instead of having a bunch of big make-or-break exams at the end of the year, within days of one another. Using multiple choice tests which can be marked automatically makes it simpler to do this as they can be marked by machine. Multiple choice with automated marking also means you don't have to decipher students' bad handwriting; you can't recognise students' writing and apply subconscious favouritism; you have to ask questions with unambiguously right answers; it's simple to be consistent with marking; and rates of human error are reduced. With that said, you can't teach someone to write an essay without having them write an essay and giving them feedback; and you can't check a student's math problem working and point out where they make a mistake. So multiple choice tests certainly aren't the be-all and end-all of student evaluation.

polymatter 13y ago

easier, cheaper and more objective marking probably. multiple choice doesn't mean dumbed down. indeed, it can be much harder since you can't show working or explain reasons. It turns into an exercise of guessing the password (http://lesswrong.com/lw/iq/guessing_the_teachers_password/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/iq/guessing_the_teachers_password/) rather than demonstrating any real learning has taken place. This can be hard to guess even if you know the material in question.