Choose the "Best Answer" vs. the "Correct Answer"

There is a controversy in our class discussion about "Choosing the best answer" being invalid as compared to "Choosing the correct answer". Logically, if a teacher makes a test question, gives his/her options, the best answer IS the correct answer after all. There is no point system per option, i.e. if you choose option A, it gives 2 points, option B, giving you 5 points. Choosing the best answers will therefore garner you with the most points. No. Multiple-choice questions are not made that way. the best answer WILL be marked the correct one.


After reading several literature on the subject, there is a plausible reason for why "Choosing the best answer" is used widely in test questions, and is actually better than "Choosing the correct answer".


Below are several quotations found from multiple articles:


"Multiple choice questions require fine distinctions between correct and nearly-correct statements. They learn that these distinctions are not only of Recognition, but are distinctions that involve the thinking for Synthesis, Analysis, and Application. These higher-order thinking questions sometimes make the content of the questions unrecognisable."


                       (How to study, write and learn from multiple choice exams by Jackie Tan, University of Victoria, Counselling Services)


"Instruct students to select the “best answer” rather than the “correct answer”. By doing this, you acknowledge the fact that the distractors may have an element of truth to them and discourage arguments from students who may argue that their answer is correct as well. 

                           (Designing Multiple-Choice Questions, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo)

"Use either the best answer or the correct answer format.

• Best answer format refers to a list of options that can all be correct in the sense that each has an advantage, but one of them is the best.
• Correct answer format refers to one and only one right answer."

"Use multiple-choice to measure higher level thinking."

                           (Instructional Assessment Resources, University of Austin, Texas)

"If answers/distractors include best and not-as-good alternatives (“Select the best answer…”), make sure that there is an unambiguously correct answer or answers. Provide enough detail to differentiate best from not-as-good."

                           

                           (Tips for Writing Good Multiple Choice Question Answers/Distractors by Patti Shank, Ph.D, San Fransisco State University)

Based on these statements from a variety of sources, it is not a matter of how logically appropriate the sentence construction is, for it is true, the BEST ANSWER will be marked as the Correct one. It is a matter of purpose why a "choose the best answer" question exists. :)

It is not merely to test the lowest level of of man's cognitive process: Knowledge, Recall or Memorization, but also the higher levels of thinking: i.e. Analysis, Synthesis, etc. A well-constructed Multiple-choice question is capable of testing that. :) 

Here are the links to the articles I have read, I have also read some of their other resources.

• http://powertochange.com/students/academics/multiplechoice/
• http://cte.uwaterloo.ca/teaching_resources/tips/designing_multiple_choice_questions.html
• http://www.utexas.edu/academic/ctl/assessment/iar/students/plan/method/exams-mchoice-write.php
• http://ctfd.sfsu.edu/teaching-practices/tips-for-writing-good-multiple-choice-question-answersdistractors.htm

Submitted to: Professor Harold Culala

Submitted by: Camille Ann Bolos