ESSAY

EXAMINATION

Essay test is a test that requires the

student to structure a rather long written
response up to several paragraphs.
The essay test refers to any written test
that requires the examinee to write a
sentence, a paragraph or longer
passages.

Suggestions
in
Constructin

1. If an essay examination is to be used

effectively in the classroom, it must be
planed and constructed carefully in
advance.
2. It must show major aspects of the lesson in
framing questions, so care must be taken to
distribute questions evenly among the
different
units.

3. After the test has been planned and the questions

have been written tentatively, precautions on the
causes of unreliability should be taken.
4. In assembling the test questions into a final form,
the teacher should be careful that he phrases the
questions vividly so that its scope will be clear to
the students.

5. Time limit on the coverage of each

question should be reckoned so that
students have adequate time to answer

Types of
Constructing
an Essay
Examination

According to Monroe and Carter there are

twenty types of essay examination
as cited by Calmorin, 1994.

1. Selective recall. The basis is given.

Example Name the four types of evaluation according to their
function in the classroom.

2. Evaluating recall. The basis is also given.

Example Name five agencies in the Philippines which have had
the greatest influence on the economic development of the
country.

3.Comparison of two things (specific). There is one

single designated basis. Example compare traditional
school and modern school.
4. Comparison of two things (general) - comparing two
things in general.
Examples
4.1. Compare education in united states with
that In the Philippines.

5. Decision (For or Against)

Examples :
5.1 In which, in your opinion can you do
better,
an oral or written examination?
5.2 In your opinion, which is better
language to
improve in the Philippines?

6. Cause or effects Example

6.1 Why is Science given more stress
by the government than other subjects
in the curriculum? How it affects our current education
system now.
7. Explanation of the use of exact meaning of some phrases or statement
in a passage.
Example
7.1 What does this passage mean " People
talking without speaking; People hearing without listening;
People writing song that voices never hear; And
no one dare disturb the sound of Silence"

8. Summary of some unit of the test or

some articles read.
Example:
8.1 Summarize in a two paragraph the
importance of figure of speech in writing a poem.
9. Analysis ( The word itself is seldom
involved in the question )
Example
9.1 What are the characteristics of President Noynoy
Aquino which make you understand why Filipinos
sympathize him?

10. Statement of relationship

Example:
10.1. Why is knowledge on Chemistry
helpful in studying Food Technology?
11. Illustration and examples of principles
in Science construction in Language, etc.
Example:
11.1. From your own experience , give five
examples of the use of Science in your daily life.

12. Classification. (Usually reverse of no. 11)

Example :
12.1 To what class does fish belong
to the animal kingdom ?
13. Application of rules or principles in new situations
Example:
13.1. Why wearing IDs are commonly
observe in every institutions likes banks,
schools,etc.?

14. Discussion
Example:
14.1. Discuss about the Global Warming.
15. Statement of aim
Example:
15.1 State the rules in constructing
completion type test.

16. Criticism - As to the adequacy, correctness,

or relevance of a pointed statement of
students answer to a question on the lesson.
Example:
16.1. What is wrong with the statement
" Practice makes Perfect"
17. Outline
Example:
17.1. Outline the rules for constructing
anlogy type of test.

18. Reorganization of facts. (A good type of

review question to give training in organization)
Example:
18.1. Discuss the theory and practice scheme
approach based upon the book,
class discussion, outside reading.
19. Formulation of new questions, problems and
questions raised.
Example :
19.1. Aside from corruption, bribery, graft,
what else can a politicians do to lose public trust?

20. New method or procedure

Example:
20.1. Suggest a plan for improving
the new method of teaching
English?