How to make a multiple-choice quiz (with good wrong answers)

Parts of a multiple-choice question

Writing good wrong answers

• Base them on real mistakes: the answer you get if you add instead of multiply, or mix up two similar terms.
• Keep all options about the same length and in the same grammatical form; the longest answer is often the right one in rushed quizzes.
• Avoid “all of the above” and “none of the above”; they test test-taking more than the topic.
• Avoid negatives in the stem (“Which is NOT…”). If you must use one, bold it.
• Put options in a logical order (numbers smallest to largest, dates in order) so position gives nothing away.

Example

• Stem: Which process do plants use to make glucose from sunlight?
• A. Respiration (common mix-up)
• B. Photosynthesis (correct)
• C. Germination (a plant word students know)
• D. Pollination (another plant word)

Beyond recall

Multiple choice can test understanding, not only facts. Give a short scenario, graph or quote and ask what it shows, which conclusion follows, or which step comes next. Questions like these take longer to write but tell you much more.

How long should a quiz be?

• A quick check at the end of a lesson: 3–5 questions.
• A weekly quiz: about 10 questions.
• A unit test: 20 or more, often mixed with short written answers.

Making the answer key

Write the answer as you write each question, not afterwards. Duplicate the quiz page and mark the right letters on the copy, then keep it with the design so the key stays in step if you edit a question. A pattern check helps too: make sure the correct letters aren't all A or B.