Anatomy of a Multiple Choice Question
Each multiple choice question contains two main elements; the stem and answer choices (options)..
The Stem
The stem contains all the essential elements of the question—identifying the task to be completed, establishing the essential influences, and providing the qualifiers necessary to determine the correct answer.
Tasks
Task words define both the objective of the question and the type of thinking required to reach the correct answer.
The table below illustrates some keywords associated with tasks.
Task Type | Keywords | Action |
|
|---|---|---|
| Identify | identify, select, choose, determine, | Choose the correct item |
| Compare | compare, similar, difference | Identify similarities and or differences |
| Define | define, meaning of, refers to | State the meaning of a term |
| Describe | describe, outline | State the parts and or features. |
| Explain | explain, reason | State how something happens (process) State why something happens (reason) |
| Analyze | analyze, interpret | Analyze - break into parts Interpret - understand meaning |