Comparative Study of Different Format of MCQs: Multiple True-False and Single Best Answer Test Formats in a New Medical School of Malaysia

Nordin, Simbak and Salwani, Ismail and Norhasiza, Mat Jusoh (2014) Comparative Study of Different Format of MCQs: Multiple True-False and Single Best Answer Test Formats in a New Medical School of Malaysia. International Medical Journal, 21 (60). pp. 562-566. ISSN 1341-2051

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Abstract

Introduction: Multiple choice questions (MCQs) alone or in conjunction with other test instruments are extensively used in high-stakes examination in medical institutions. Amongst numerous genres of MCQ style of exam with five options, it seems that examinees have greater chance to get correct answers for multiple true-false (MTF) than single best answer (SBA). Moreover, there has been no previous literature review revealed prediction and correlation of MCQ test format with overall student's performance. Objectives: This study, therefore, examined students' performance between these two evaluation techniques and correlated them with other assessment outcomes. Materials and Methods: The calculated contribution results of SBA orthopedic and negative no-carry-over marked MTF surgery questions of Year 3 students enrolled in Session (2011/12) and Session (2012/13) in UniSZA were analyzed separately for each year. In addition, the correlation coefficient (r) was figured out to determine the linear relationship between each exam style and other performance results. Results: Both academic year results pointed out that the students got higher marks in SBA questions than MTF quiz. SBA test results were found to be well correlated with clinical marks (objective structure clinical examination (OSCE) and long case examination and modified essay question (MEQ). Conclusion: The findings of this study encouraged the use of SBA quiz in place of MTF test format for examinations. However, the diversity of marking systems, competence of lecturers, teaching techniques and question difficulty indexes between these two different subject matters may lead to biased conclusion. Thus, further studies of comparison between these two examination styles conducting in the same subject are requisite to get more reliable and unbiased inferences.

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