Complex multiple choice (CMC) items are frequently used to test knowledge about repetitive information. In two independent comparisons, performance on the CMC items surpassed that of the multiple true-false clusters. Data indicate that performance on CMC items is inflated, and distractors on CMC items fail to prevent guessing. (Author/PN)

Literature on the use of true-false examination questions is reviewed, and it is concluded that such questions can be written to measure the range of cognitive outcomes efficiently. However, except among professional test developers, this does not usually happen. Research does not clarify whether the answer lies in better teacher training or in…

The congruence among students' predictions of grades before taking short-answer and essay tests, their estimations of grades after taking the tests, and the actual grades was studied for 69 college students. There was a significant, but slight, positive relationship between students' judgments and their actual grades. (SLD)

The effect on examinee performance of the rule that multiple-choice (MC) test items require the acceptance of 1 choice was examined for 106 dental students presented with choices in MC and multiple true-false formats. MC items force examinees to select one choice, which causes artificial acceptance of correct/incorrect choices. (SLD)