ESSAY ITEMS

It is appropriate when assessing student’s ability to

organize and present their original ideas.

It consists of a few number of questions wherein the

examinee is expected to demonstrate the ability to
recall factual knowledge; organize his knowledge; and
present his knowledge in logical and integrate answer.
Extended Response Essays
- An essay test that allows the students to determine
the length and complexity of the response (Kubiszyn
and Borich, 2007).

- Useful in assessing the synthesis and evaluation

skills.

* organize ideas
* integrate and express ideas
* evaluate information in knowledge
Extended Response Essay
Advantages:
1. Demonstrate learning outcomes at the synthesis and
evaluation levels.
2. Evaluate the answers with sufficient reliability to provide
useful measures of learning.
3. Provides more freedom to give responses to the question and
provide creative integration of ideas.

Disadvantages:
1. More difficult to construct extended response essay
questions.
2. Scoring is time consuming than restricted response essay.
Extended Response Essay
Examples:
1. Present and describe the modern theory of evolution and
discuss how it is supported by evidence from the areas of
(a) comparative anatomy, (b) population genetics

2. From the statement “Wealthy politicians cannot offer fair

representation to all the people” What do you think is the
reasoning of the statement? Explain your answer.
Restricted Response Essay
- an essay item that places strict limits on both
content and the given response

- usually restricted by the scope of the topic to be

discussed and the limitations on the form of the
response is indicated in the question
Restricted Response Essay
Advantages:
1. Easier to prepare questions
2. Easier to score
3. More directly related to the specific learning outcomes

Disadvantages:
1. Provides little opportunity for the students to demonstrate
their abilities to organize ideas
2. ;to integrate materials
3. ;to develop new patterns of answers
Restricted Response Essay
Examples:
1. List the major facts and opinions in the first state
of the nation address (SONA) of Pres. Benigno
Cojuangco Aquino, Jr. Limit your answer to one
page only. The score will depend on the content,
organization and accuracy of your answer.

2. Point out the strengths and weakness of a

multiple-choice type of test. Limit your answer to
five strengths and five weaknesses. Explain each
answer in not more than two sentences.
Guidelines in Constructing Essay
Test Items
1. Construct essay question used to measure complex learning
outcomes only.
2. Essay questions should relate directly to the learning outcomes to be
measured.
3. Formulate essay questions that present a clear task to be performed.
4. An item should be stated precisely and it must clearly focus on the
desired answer.
5. All students should be required to answer the same question.
6. Number of points and time spent in answering the question must be
indicated in each item.
7. Specify the number of words, paragraphs or the number of sentences
for the answer.
8. The scoring system must be discussed or presented to the students.
Example of Essay Test Item
1. Choose a leader you admire most and explain why you admire
him or her.
2. Pick a controversial issue in the Aquino administration.
Discuss the issue and suggest a solution.
3. If you were the principal of a certain school, describe how
would you demonstrate your leadership ability inside and
outside the school.
4. Describe the differences between Norm-referenced assessment
and Criterion-referenced assessment.
5. Do you agree or disagree with the statement, “ Education
comes not from books but from practical experience”. Support
your position.
Types of complex outcomes and Related Terms for Writing Essay
Questions
Outcomes Sample Verbs Sample Questions
Comparing Compare, classify describe, Describe the similarities
distinguish between, and differences between
explain, outline, Philippine educational
summarize system and the
Singaporean educational
system.

Interpreting Convert, draw, estimate, Summarize briefly the

illustrate, interpret, restate, content of the second
summarize, translate SONA of President
Benigno C. Aquino, Jr.
Inferring Derive, draw, estimate, Using the facts presented,
extend , predict, propose, what is most likely to
relate happen when… ?

Applying Arrange, compute, Solve the solution set of the

describe, illustrate, relate, equation
summarize, solve using factoringx 2method
 5 x  24  0
Types of complex outcomes and Related Terms for Writing Essay
Questions
Outcomes Sample Verbs Sample Questions

Analyzing Break down, describe, List and describe the

differentiate, divide, list, characteristics of a good
outline assessment instrument
Creating Compose, design, draw, Formulate a hypothesis
formulate, list, present, make about the problem
up “Mathematics attitude and
competency levels of the
education students of U.E.”

Synthesizing Arrange, combine, construct, Design a scoring guide in

design, relate, group
Generalizing Construct, develop, explain,
formulate, make, state
Evaluating Appraise, criticize, defend,
describe, evaluate, explain,
judge, rate, write
evaluating portfolio
assessment.
Explain the function of
assessment of learning
Describe the strengths and
weaknesses of using
performance-based
assessment in evaluating the
performance of the students.
Advantages of Essay Test
1. It is easier to prepare and less time consuming compared to
other paper and pencil tests.
2. It measures higher-order thinking skills (analysis, synthesis
and evaluation).
3. It allows students’ freedom to express individuality in
answering the given question.
4. The students have a chance to express their own ideas in order
to plan their own answer.
5. It reduces guessing answer compared to any of the objective
type of test.
6. It presents more realistic task to the students.
7. It emphasizes on the integration and application of ideas.
Disadvantage of Essay Test
1. It cannot provide an objective measure of the
achievement of the students.
2. It needs so much time to grade and prepare
scoring criteria.
3. The scores are usually not reliable most especially
without scoring criteria.
4. It measures limited amount of contents and
objectives.
5. Low variation of scores.
6. It usually encourages bluffing.
Suggestions for Grading Essay Test
1. Decide on a policy for dealing with incorrect, irrelevant or
illegal response.
2. Keep scores of the previously read items out of sight.
3. The student’s identity should remain anonymous while his/her
paper is being graded.
4. Read and evaluate each student’s answer to the same question
before grading the next question.
5. Provide students with general grading criteria by which they
will be evaluated prior to the examination.
6. Use analytic scoring or holistic scoring.
7. Answer the test question yourself by writing the ideal answer
to it so that you can develop the scoring criteria from your
answer.
8. Write your comments on their papers.
Checklist for Evaluating Essay Questions
Yes No
The test item is appropriate for measuring the intended learning
outcomes.

The test item task matches with the learning task to be

measured.

The questions constructed measure complex learning outcomes.

It is stated in the questions what is being measured and how the

answers are to be evaluated.

The terminology used clarifies and limits the task.

All students are required to answer the same question.
There is an established time limit to answer each question.

Provisions for scoring answers are given (criteria for evaluating

answers.)