Multiple-Choice Testing in Education: Are the Best Practices for Assessment Also Good for Learning?

Multiple-choice tests are arguably the most popular type of assessment in education, and much research has been dedicated to determining best practices for using them to measure learning. The act of taking a test also causes learning, and numerous studies have investigated how best to use multiple-choice tests to improve long-term retention and produce deeper understanding. In this review article, I explore whether the best practices for assessment align with the best practices for learning. Although consensus between these two literatures is not a foregone conclusion, there is substantial agreement in how best to construct and use multiple-choice tests for these two disparate purposes. The overall recommendation from both literatures is to create questions that are simple in format (e.g., avoid use of complex item types), challenge students but allow them to succeed often, and target specific cognitive processes that correspond to learning objectives.