MCQs & Self-Assessment

Complete the interactive activities in the Seneca app to work towards your CPD certificate.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

MCQs are widely used to test the knowledge and understanding of a topic. They use closed questions and have several options for answers. One or more of the answers may be correct.

Scoring

MCQs can be scored in various ways:
- The pupil can be awarded a mark for each correct answer selected, regardless if they select all the correct answers.
- The pupil can be awarded one mark only for selecting all the correct answers.
- The pupil can receive negative marks for incorrect answers. This is used to deter guessing.

Effective MCQs

To be effective, MCQs should have the following characteristics:
- Have 3 to 4 answer options.
- Not use the negative.
- If there are multiple correct answers, it should not indicate how many are correct in the question.
- Are challenging but not too difficult.
- Do not use ‘all of these’ or ‘none of these’ as an option.
Pupils should be given the correct answer/feedback immediately to prevent further misunderstanding.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:
- Using MCQs can help long-term learning, as they are a type of retrieval practice.
- They are quick to mark.
- They can be completed and auto-marked online.
- Questions can be shared and ‘pooled’ between teachers.
Disadvantages:
- Somehow limited when assessing complex concepts.
- Pupils can always guess!
- High-quality multiple choice questions are difficult to write and can take time.

Self and Peer Assessment

Self-assessment is when a pupil reviews their own work. Peer assessment is when one or more other pupils, similarly reviews another pupil’s piece of work and gives feedback.

How they work

Self-assessment can be done by using a set of success criteria or one specific aspect of students' work. E.g. paragraphing in written work or clarity of voice in a presentation.
In peer assessment, peers may be self-selected, selected by the teacher (using knowledge of the pupils) or a whole class looking at a piece of work together (e.g. through a visualiser).

Advantages of self-assessment

Research by Papanthymou and Darra (2019) showed that self-assessment can:
- Encourage pupils' reflection and awareness of the success criteria.
- Motivate pupils.
- Improve student work.
- Reduce students' stress.
- Support students' meta-cognition.
- Develop pupil autonomy.
Pupils should be supported in their assessment with a clear feedback structure to use, such as the method "Two Stars and a Wish" from Dylan William (2007).

Disadvantages of self-assessment

If the assessment criteria are not clear, pupils will not be able to reflect on them meaningfully.
Engagement and motivation to complete the task may differ between students.
Pupils' self-esteem may influence their assessment of their own work.

Advantages of peer-assessment

Double et al. (2018) showed that peer-assessment has similar benefits to self-assessment. And also:
- Reduces the need for teacher feedback.
- Benefits the person that feeds back as they have to read the work, identify success criteria and process them to give accurate feedback.
- Creates a development mindset.

Disadvantages of peer-assessment

If the peers are working at different levels, the assessment may become confusing or demotivating.
If the assessment criteria are too complex, pupils may not fully understand them and end up providing inaccurate or superficial feedback.
Pupils might be biased in their feedback. E.g. when assessing their friends.
Teachers still need to read and check the work.
Some peers may not be comfortable working together or sharing their work.