In this discussion a distinction will be made between the more subjective types of question or items, such as the essay and short-answer, and the more objective types
such as true false, multiple choices, and matching.
14
a. Subjective Test
Subjective test is a test where in its scoring requires judgment and evaluation of the scorer. In this type of test, the answer usually is in a form of composition where the
students are given a freedom to relate in their own words. The subjective tests that are common used in classroom are essay, short answer and completion.
1 Essay
The essay item is the most complex of supply type item. It demands that the students compose a response, often extensive to a question for which no single
response or pattern of response can be cited as correct to the exclusion of are the answer.”
15
An example of instructions to answer essay question: “Explain the
differences between subjective test and objective test”
Thus, the distinctive feature of essay question is freedom of response it provides. The advantages of the essay questions:
16
a The essay question is useful for measuring the pupil ability to
organize, integrate, and express their idea. b
Constructing essay question is relatively easy. c
The possibility of guessing is minimized.
14
Victor H. Noll, Introduction to Educational Measurements, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965, p.129-130
15
Drs. Wilmar Tinambunan, op. cit., p.86
16
Drs. Wilmar Tinambunan, op. cit., p.87
d Constructing essay question require less time than the other
measurement tool such as true false or multiple-choice item. Besides the above advantages, the essay type questions also have a few
disadvantages such as:
17
a Scoring essay question is difficult
b Unreliability of scoring
c Judgment of students; responds requires much time
d Limited sample of total instructional content.
2 Short Answer Question
The short answer item consists of a question, which can be answered with a word or short phrase.
18
An example of instructions to answer the short answer question: “A question which can be answered with a word or short
phrase is called………” Generally, teachers prefer to use the short answer type of question,
probably because they think it has some advantages. It is relatively easy to construct, it also gives the teacher some opportunity to see how well students
can express their thought and it is also not difficult to score or mark than the essay question.
19
However, it is difficult to phrase the short answer question so
17
Drs. Wilmar Tinambunan, op. cit., p.88
18
Victor H. Noll, op. cit., p. 129-130
19
Ibid
that only one answer is correct.
20
And this type of question will be more useful only in testing knowledge of facts and quite specific information.
21
Thus, when teachers are going to know the boarder description about something, they are
better to use the essay form.
3 Completion
The completion item is a written statement that requires the examinee to supply the correct word or short phrase in response to an incomplete sentence, a
question or a word association. Completion test can be used effectively to measure the recall of terms, dates, names and generalizations.
22
Example: “There are five continents in the world. They are …….., Africa, ……….,
Australia and Europe. Asia is ………… continent in the world, ………… one is Australia.
The completion item and short answer item are both supply type test items, but in the short answer type, the blank is nearly always at the end,
whereas in the completion in the completion, type of the blank may occur everywhere in the statement.
23
This type of test can be used at almost all levels. But it is extremely difficult to phrase the question or incomplete statement so that only one answer
is correct, and in making the questions, it may not too many clues are given to
20
Wilmar, op. cit.,p. 62.
21
Victor H. Noll, op. cit., p.139
22
Wilmar, op.cit., p. 61
23
Victor H. Noll, op. cit., p.140
answer the questions. Cause if too many clues are given, the items will be too easy, and if an insufficient number of clues are presented, the item will be
ambiguous and may yield several possibility of correct answer.
24
b. Objective Test
