01: MCQ Stems

Multiple-Choice Single Select

In multiple-choice single select questions, the learners are required to select only one option out of given five. Hence, it is recommended to write the question stem using singular noun. The question stem usually starts with “Which one of the following … is …”

As multiple-choice single select questions requires learner to select just one option out of the five given, singular noun is used in forming the instruction statement. Usually the instruction is written as “Select an option, and then click Submit.”

Example

The following example demonstrates how to correctly write stems and instructions for multiple-choice single select questions. The learning objective for this topic is: “State the characteristics of living things.”

Input 

The characteristics of living things are:

• • Respiration: Living things take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

  • Growth: Living things grow and both its size and weight increase. Even single-celled organisms grow. When first formed by cell division, they are small, and must grow and develop into mature cells. Multicellular organisms pass through a more complicated process of differentiation and organogenesis.

  • Response to stimuli: They are capable of action in response to events in the surroundings.

  • Excretion: They eliminate waste products from the body. If this waste was allowed to remain in the body it could be poisonous. Humans produce liquid waste called urine. We also excrete waste when we breathe out. All living things need to remove waste from their bodies.

  • Reproduction: Living things create other living things like itself. Humans make babies, cats produce kittens and pigeons lay eggs. Plants also reproduce. Many make seeds that can germinate and grow into new plants.

  • Death: Living things die after a period of time.

Output 

Which one of the statements about characteristics of living things is false?

Select an option, and then click Submit.

In this example, the learning objective is weaved into the stem and the negative word in the stem is bolded. The button title in instruction is bolded for emphasis. As the question is of multiple-choice single select type, singular noun has been used in the stem as well as in the instruction text.

Non-Example

The following non-example demonstrates how not to write stems and instructions for multiple-choice single select questions. The learning objective for this topic is: “State the characteristics of living things.”

Input

The characteristics of living things are:

• • Respiration: Living things take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

  • Growth: Living things grow and both its size and weight increase. Even single-celled organisms grow. When first formed by cell division, they are small, and must grow and develop into mature cells. Multicellular organisms pass through a more complicated process of differentiation and organogenesis.

  • Response to stimuli: They are capable of action in response to events in the surroundings.

  • Excretion: They eliminate waste products from the body. If this waste was allowed to remain in the body it could be poisonous. Humans produce liquid waste called urine. We also excrete waste when we breathe out. All living things need to remove waste from their bodies.

  • Reproduction: Living things create other living things like itself. Humans make babies, cats produce kittens and pigeons lay eggs. Plants also reproduce. Many make seeds that can germinate and grow into new plants.

  • Death: Living things die after a period of time.

Output

Which one of the statements about reproduction in living things is false?

Select an option, and then click Submit.

In this non-example, the learning objective is not weaved into the question stem. The question stem does not cover the entire content and focuses only on one of the characteristics of the living things.

Multiple-Choice Multiple Select

In multiple-choice multiple select questions, the learners are required to select more than one option out of five given. Hence, it is recommended to write the question stem using plural noun. The question stem usually starts with “Which of the following … are …?”

As multiple-choice multiple select questions requires learner to select more than one option out of the five given, plural nouns are used in forming the instruction statement. Usually the instruction is written as “Select all options, and then click Submit.”

Example

The following example demonstrates how to correctly write stems and instructions for multiple-choice multiple select questions. The learning objective for this topic is: “Describe the processes involved in digestion.”

Input 

The human digestive system is designed to process food and fluids, which are consumed on a daily basis. Let’s study the main processes involved in digestion.

• • Ingestion: Food enters the body via the mouth where it is chewed. This action helps to break up the food enabling it to be swallowed and enter the oesophagus. The chewing action also releases enzymes which help to break down the food in preparation for the digestion process. 

  • Digestion: Oesophagus conveys ingested food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. This is partially under the effect of gravity but also as a result of the continuous contraction and relaxation of the muscular wall of the oesophagus, a process known as peristalsis. 

  • Absorption: Stomach receives food and fluids after ingestion. Food is then churned around and mixed with gastric juices, a mixture of acid, enzymes and other materials, which starts to break down food into smaller particles in order to make digestion easier. The food proceeds to small intestine. It is very important as it is the major site of digestion of food and subsequent absorption of essential nutrients which the body needs to function efficiently.

  • Elimination: Indigestible food remains and fluid pass from the small intestine into the large intestine where one of the most important processes take place. It involves the absorption of water through the wall of the intestine and into the bloodstream. Therefore, as material passes through the large intestine it becomes progressively drier and more solid in consistency and the waste matter forms into faeces, or "stools" which is eliminated from the body through the anus.

Output 

Which of the statements explaining the digestive processes are true?

Select all options that apply, and then click Submit.

In this example, the learning objective is weaved into the stem. The button title in instruction is bolded for emphasis. As the question is of multiple-choice multiple-select type, plural nouns have been used in the stem as well as in the instruction text.

Non-Example

The following non-example demonstrates how not to write stems and instructions for multiple-choice multiple select questions. The learning objective for this topic is: “Describe the processes involved in digestion.”

Input 

The human digestive system is designed to process food and fluids, which are consumed on a daily basis. Let’s study the main processes involved in digestion.

• • Ingestion: Food enters the body via the mouth where it is chewed. This action helps to break up the food enabling it to be swallowed and enter the oesophagus. The chewing action also releases enzymes which help to break down the food in preparation for the digestion process. 

  • Digestion: Oesophagus conveys ingested food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. This is partially under the effect of gravity but also as a result of the continuous contraction and relaxation of the muscular wall of the oesophagus, a process known as peristalsis. 

  • Absorption: Stomach receives food and fluids after ingestion. Food is then churned around and mixed with gastric juices, a mixture of acid, enzymes and other materials, which starts to break down food into smaller particles in order to make digestion easier. The food proceeds to small intestine. It is very important as it is the major site of digestion of food and subsequent absorption of essential nutrients which the body needs to function efficiently.

  • Elimination: Indigestible food remains and fluid pass from the small intestine into the large intestine where one of the most important processes take place. It involves the absorption of water through the wall of the intestine and into the bloodstream. Therefore, as material passes through the large intestine it becomes progressively drier and more solid in consistency and the waste matter forms into faeces, or "stools" which is eliminated from the body through the anus.

Output 

Which of the statements explaining the digestive processes are true?

Select all options that apply, and then click Submit.

In this non-example, plural noun is used in instruction text. However, the word “true” is bolded as against the standard of bolding the negative word, and the button title (submit) in instruction is not bolded for emphasis.