
When students take a test, it is important to mix it up with no only true and false but also multiple choice and other testing styles.
I agree that mixing your test by using at least three different styles of testing is a better approach for any exam or test because some students will do better in one area than others.
As a medical assisting clinical instructor, I teach theory as well as a skills component. Along with doing skills application testing, I administer written tests in a variety of testing formats and I especially like adding short answer questions. The short answer questions are based on a case study that taps into a skills activity they already learned/performed in class. By adding short answer questions, I get to see 'how the student thinks' and the mental processes they go through as they approach a clinical scenario. As Ana-Maria noted in her response about mixing tests, the short answer component helps me assess my students' critical thinking capabilities and their understanding of the material.
I agree that mixing tests is an effective way to test a students understanding of what is covered. By using a mixed test, you will be able to get a true understanding of where the students stands knowledge wise.
I also agree with the approach of varying the type of test formats including essays, which will test their higher critical thinking and understanding of the material.
I will also do this AND I will create different versions of the test so that folks sitting near each other cannot copy off of one another. It's a grade school trick, of course, but it works.
I agree mixing different types of questions; multiple choice, true false and completion help to give you an idea of their understanding.
I also like to use varyin formats. I teach medical formulas and life saving technique. No two patients are the same
I agree with this. I think mixing up the question format breaks through the boring part of test taking. It provides the students with a variety so they dont get frustrated or irritated with longer tests.
I utilize multiple choice, true/false, and fill in the blank with tests. The students seem to like the varying formats and I feel it leads them to be more effective when studying because they never know how the questions will be presented.