Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/3-1-3-mcqs-and-self-assessment [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: Assessment for Teachers - Seneca Certified Assessor](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor.md) › MCQs & Self-Assessment # MCQs & Self-Assessment CPD: Assessment for Teachers (by Dawn Cox), topic 3.1.3 ## 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 ![Scoring](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-07/ab9d2ad4-104b-49cc-9197-363a532f9706/calculator-428294_1920-min.jpg) - 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 ![Effective MCQs](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/eee6bab5-d6a7-493a-8fb2-39322a189cd0/exam-sheet-answers.jpg) - 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 and disadvantages](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/83f61af0-24e5-4ca0-9d4c-35ab6d27653f/thuumbs-up-down-.jpg) - 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 ![How they work](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/0f361cca-e363-4b41-a150-2fc9c5690507/studying-951818_1920.jpg) - 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 ![Advantages of self-assessment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/46f35257-bbd2-4ca0-8087-372ac5cebf8c/child-homework-thinking-memory.jpg) - 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 ![Disadvantages of self-assessment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/796d9df8-e274-426c-a397-a3acc247c320/pen-self-report-questionnaire-rate-cross-.jpg) - 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 ![Advantages of peer-assessment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a3db707f-3f62-4fbf-adcd-8c55fd796f69/economic-growth-improvement.jpg) - 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 ![Disadvantages of peer-assessment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/3215ef83-699d-44e8-8d78-259aed66626e/boys-school-.jpg) - 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. ## Well done! Thank you for completing our CPD course. We hope you've enjoyed it and that it has given you some ideas for your own classroom. [GIF: ](https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNzNjYmVuY29hdGwyMHNycGFheGI0a29mNjA4ZGVtanF2ZTh0NTZ3OSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l0MYCn3DDRBBqk6nS/giphy.mp4) ## Test yourself on MCQs & Self-Assessment - What are the characteristics of effective multiple choice questions? - What are the characteristics of effective multiple choice questions?Click the boxes with the correct answers. - Which of this is NOT a disadvantage of MCQs? - What is the method "Two Stars and a Wish", created by Dylan William (2007)? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/04e36b88-c9c6-47ac-8a4b-54b9ceeea532/section/c8ddda4b-5874-408c-bb39-a1ef3d60247a/session) - Previous topic: [3.1.2 Rubrics & Comparative Judgment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/3-1-2-rubrics-and-comparative-judgment.md) ## CPD: Assessment for Teachers (by Dawn Cox) contents ### 1 Introduction to Assessment - 1.1 Definitions - [1.1.1 Validity & Reliability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/1-1-1-validity-and-reliability.md) - 1.2 Types of Assessments - [1.2.1 Summative & Formative Assessments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/1-2-1-summative-and-formative-assessments.md) ### 2 Feedback - 2.1 Feedback - [2.1.1 Feedback](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/2-1-1-feedback.md) ### 3 Assessment Methods - 3.1 Assessment Methods - [3.1.1 Research on Assessments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/3-1-1-research-on-assessments.md) - [3.1.2 Rubrics & Comparative Judgment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/3-1-2-rubrics-and-comparative-judgment.md) - [3.1.3 MCQs & Self-Assessment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-assessment-for-teachers-seneca-certified-assessor/3-1-3-mcqs-and-self-assessment.md)