00:00:08:11 - 00:00:14:22
Unknown
Writing multiple choice questions is hard. We all need help. We all need guidance. We all need inspiration.

00:00:14:23 - 00:00:29:17
Unknown
The purpose of the workshop is to try to break down the process. So we look at what makes a good multiple choice question, what the pitfalls are and how you can avoid them, and hopefully come up with some guidance to make the job a little bit easier.

00:00:29:19 - 00:00:37:13
Unknown
The workshops focus on multiple choice questions for language so the content can be applied to any language. But

00:00:37:13 - 00:00:46:23
Unknown
a good number of our participants are assessing English, working in schools or working in awarding bodies. Some people are item writers.

00:00:47:01 - 00:00:59:19
Unknown
Different contexts. But it's really vital that we get these right. We use multiple choice questions a lot, and they're difficult to write.

00:00:59:21 - 00:01:12:09
Unknown
I think the biggest challenge in writing multiple choice questions is getting the distractors. Anyone who's written multiple choice questions will know you can usually think of some good content, a good clear key,

00:01:12:11 - 00:01:38:13
Unknown
maybe 1 or 2 decent distractors. But there is always a problem getting more than two. And interestingly, this applies for all subjects, but in languages, I think it's even more challenging and thinking about what makes a good distractor is maybe the most important part of getting a good multiple choice question.

00:01:38:15 - 00:01:43:23
Unknown
I think an awareness of what makes a good question of course, but also what makes a bad question.

00:01:44:03 - 00:01:57:20
Unknown
What could interfere with the understanding and send students in the wrong direction, which ultimately means that we're not assessing their language and maybe assessing their general knowledge of the world or something that has confused them.