This article gave us a welcome reminder about an important assessment principle. Question formats should be selected based on the content being assessed. Avoid ruling out a particular question format due to a possible misconception or personal preference. In the era where we are heavily focussed on competence and performance based assessments is it time for a refresher on the advantages and disadvantages of written question formats? This article offers an overview of common written testing formats.
Are the most appropriate question formats being utilised in your written assessments? Is it time for a re-think of a format that may have been previously overlooked? Take a look at this helpful introductory guide by Schuwirth and van der Vleuten ‘ABC of learning and teaching in medicine: Written assessment’ and review these questions in your own practice.
Reference:
Schuwirth LWT, van der Vleuten CPM. Written assessment. BMJ : British Medical Journal. 2003;326(7390):643-645.