This page provides guidance on how to put together questions for multiple choice assessments.
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are a practical way to assess what students understand. When written well, they can check recall, understanding, and even the ability to apply knowledge. Poorly written MCQs, however, can confuse students or test reading more than learning.
What are MCQs Good For?
Use MCQs to:
- Test knowledge of facts and definitions
- Check understanding of concepts
- Identify common errors or misunderstandings
- Provide immediate feedback in online quizzes
Do not use MCQs for assessing detailed explanations, writing tasks, or practical demonstrations.
Key Parts of a Multiple-Choice Question
A good MCQ includes:
- Stem – The main question or problem
- Correct answer – The best response
- Distractors – Other options that are clearly wrong, but believable
Example from Health:
What is the recommended amount of daily physical activity for adults?
A. 10 minutes
B. 30 minutes ✔️
C. 60 minutes
D. 90 minutes
Tips for Writing MCQs
- Keep the question clear – Avoid long or complicated wording
- Avoid unnecessary detail – Focus on what students need to know
- Make all options similar in length and style – Don’t let the correct answer stand out
- Write distractors based on common errors – This helps show whether students understand the topic
- Avoid trick questions – MCQs should check learning, not confuse students
- Avoid using ‘All of the above’ or ‘None of the above’ – These often encourage guessing
- Use bold for negative words like not or except if used in the stem
Example from IT:
Which of the following is not an output device?
A. Monitor
B. Printer
C. Mouse ✔️
D. Projector
Communication:
What is active listening?
A. Thinking about what you want to say next
B. Interrupting to share your view
C. Paying full attention and responding appropriately ✔️
D. Waiting silently for your turn to speak
Science:
Which part of the plant carries out photosynthesis?
A. Root
B. Stem
C. Leaf ✔️
D. Flower
Customer Service:
What is the first step when handling a customer complaint?
A. Give a refund immediately
B. Listen to the customer without interrupting ✔️
C. Ask the customer to calm down
D. Explain store policies
Review Before Using
Check each question:
- Does it match the learning outcome?
- Is it clear and fair?
- Do the distractors make sense and reflect realistic errors?
- Can someone guess the answer too easily?
Ask a colleague to try the question. If they struggle to understand it, students will too.
Final Tip
Use MCQs alongside other question types. They are useful for checking progress quickly, but they should not be the only way students show what they know.