How to Write Multiple Choice vocabulary Questions

1
How to Write Multiple Choice vocabulary Questions
2
Item Writing Vocabulary

• Item
• Stem
• Options
• Key
• Distractors

3
Sampling Domain

• CEPA
• General Service List
• Academic Word List
• Word Families List
• MOE Curriculum
• Vocabulary-to-learn List

4
Item writing proceedure

• Traditional approach
• Select word (key)
• Write a stem
• Choose distractors

• Better approach
• Assemble option cluster
• Write a stem for each option

5
Option Cluster Characteristics

• 1) Options should be semantically unrelated.
• 2) None of the options should stand out.
• 4) All options must be from the same part of
  speech
• 5) Options must be taken from the same difficulty
  level.
• 6) Adding the plural ending to noun clusters is
  permissible if the context warrants it. In this
  case, all words in the cluster must be made
  plural.
• 7) Item writers may change the verb endings of
  option clusters to 3rd person singular and simple
  past where appropriate.
• 8) Substitution of an option must be made from
  the same frequency band.

6
Options should be semantically unrelated.

• Acceptable
• A) ship
• B) window
• C) association
• D) tree

• Unacceptable
• A) ship
• B) car
• C) train
• D) bicycle

7
None of the options should stand out.

• A) attention
• B) decision
• C) direction
• D) trial

• A) win
• B) vote
• C) ride
• D) recognize

8
All options must be from the same part of speech

• Nounsectionfactorbenefitauthority

• Verbspreservesadvisesreservesinvites

• Adjectiveseagerdistantgoldencheap

• Adverbsmoreoverotherwisesomewhereelsewhere

9
Options must be taken from the same difficulty
level.

• 80BodyEffectIdeaCondition

• 60SmileRiverGameClub

• 40RoundRapidBroadRegular

• 20FreezeSuspectMarchTwist

10
Vocabulary Stem Characteristics

• 1) No idiomatic expressions
• 2) All options should fit grammatically, for
  example, count vs non-count, transitive vs
  intransitive.
• 3) Stem vocabulary should, in general, be from a
  higher frequency level than is being tested by
  the option cluster.
• 4) The stem should carry enough meaning so you
  can guess the word without reference to the
  option cluster.
• 5) Arabic, or other foreign words, should not be
  used in the stem.
• 6) The stem should represent a common use of the
  target word.
• 7) Stem should not provide irrelevant detail.
• 8) Stem should avoid religious topics and other
  topics that are likely to be controversial.
• 9) There can be only one key. When in doubt,
  throw it out.

11
No idomatic expressions

• Sara and Ian have decided to tie the knot. Their
  __________ will be next week.
• A) graduation
• B) wedding
• C) performance
• D) vehicle

12
The stem should carry enough meaning

• You are only allowed to carry two bags on to an
  airplane. That is the _____________ for most
  airline companies.
• A) labor
• B) policy
• C) response
• D) assessment

13
Foreign words should not be used in the stem

• Shaylas and Gutras are examples of
  _______________ Emirati clothing.
• A) traditional
• B) complex
• C) sought
• D) previous

14
The stem should represent a common use of the
target word

• The two politicians ran on the same ___________.
• A) reward
• B) friendship
• C) ticket
• D) trick

15
Vocabulary Item Quality Checklist

• 1) Is there only one possible correct answer?
• 2) Is the correct answer a common use of the
  word?
• 3) Are there any idiomatic expressions in the
  stem?
• 4) Are all the words in the stem from a higher
  frequency band than is being tested?
• 5) If given only the stem, would a native speaker
  or high-ability NNS have a pretty good idea of
  the target word?
• 6) Are there any Arabic words in the stem?