Susan Polick

Hi Nancy- Email me at polick@pti.edu and I will be happy to answer all the questions that you may have. I still remember well my first attempts at assessments!! Best wishes - Susan

Nancy Ruppert

I am new to writing tests and your suggestions will be very helpful

Susan Polick

HI James - Thanks for your post to the forum. You have a good approach. Often if students encounter really tough questions at the beginning of a test they can "freeze" or "shut-down". Allowing them to feel more confident at the beginning of an assessment can avoid this. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan

James Walsh

I like to go easy to hard. Start with some T and F to build some confidence, them work my way through M/C and appropriate other types, and finally essay. You can work through a progression of problems the same way, from easy ones that most will get, to more difficult ones that will tax most of them at the end.

Megan Berg

That's helpful to know, I always struggle when its time to write Finals.

Susan Polick

Hi Catherine - I like to put short answer questions first, then multiple choice, maybe T/F and finally essay if applicable.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career and all the best in 2010! Susan

Susan Polick

Hi Dan - Welcome to ED 103! I agree that it's always a good idea to put the essay questions at the end of the test. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career and all the best in 2010! Susan

Dan Williams

I always give the essay questions at the end of the exam, because some students will write books on them and then not have enough time to finish the whole test.