Five-Option vs Four-Option Multiple-Choice Questions

• Main Author: Bartholomeus Budiyono
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of English Teacher Education 2019-12-01
• Series: IJET (Indonesian Journal of English Teaching)
• Online Access: http://jurnalftk.uinsby.ac.id/index.php/IJET/article/view/236

Abstract: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) may provide test takers with three, four, or five options and are appreciated for reliability and economic scoring. Five-option MCQs demand much more energy, experience, time, and expertise and may probably be considered to be more difficult four-option and three-option MCQs. Previous studies involved a great number of questions and participants. This study investigated the difference between five-option and four-option MCQs through deletion of non-functioning distracters (NFDs) in proportion to a classroom-based test by administering 28 MCQs to two intact classes of 34 participants. The results show that there was significant difference in participants’ scores (p 0.030< 0.05), significant difference in the number of NFDs (p 0.01<0.05), no significant difference in item facility (p 0.485>0.05), and significant difference in item discrimination (p 0.01<0.05).   Classroom teachers are free to choose either the 5-option or 4-option version, depending on the purpose of the test.   Key words: five-option, four-option, non-functioning distractor