Alternate-choice tests are the most common forms of objective tests. You will find variations of the popular true or false format (yes/no, agree/disagree, etc.). Alternate- choice tests are easy to score; therefore, they are time-savers for teachers. They are a quick way to evaluate students, and they also come in handy when students’ writing skills haven’t fully developed. For example, this technique may be used after studying a short story to “check for understanding” in younger students.

Nevertheless, writing these tests is not as easy as scoring or administering them. It takes skill to write unambiguous test questions. Remember that students should be tested only for skills they have developed; it’s inadvisable to include questions that contain new vocabulary, or vocabulary beyond the students’ understanding. Teachers should also take into account that these tests are less reliable because there’s always a chance that the student may guess the answer. Remember that a student has a 50% chance of guessing the answer to a question with two alternatives.