multiple choice exams hate it or love it

[UCDavisdude]

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Does anyone else have problems taking multiple choice exams? just wondering if i was the only one. im the kinda guy that excells off of partial credit. absolutely hate it

 

[DrBowtie]

Love it. Essay tests for bio atleast make it harder since you need to remember names more exactly.

 

[Nikki2002]

ok--here's the deal--i'm taking evolution right now and my prof gives these cracked out multiple choice exams. There are five different answers, and you circle as many that are correct. I could be all or 1--you get credit for circling the right ones and not circling the wrong ones--if you circle a wrong one or don't circle a right one, then you get points deducted. It would be ok if you could acually tell what answers are correct after studying your ass of for 2 weeks. we had one yesterday--i thought the mcat was easier--pain and agony--people actually crying afterwards......not a good scene.....my prof loved it.

 

[angel5]

I was having this conversation the other day with a friend....

I don't like MC tests. In Organic Chemistry, all of our tests were synthesis problems and I totally loved it. I get confused with MC even when I know the material cold, and don't do as well when compared to short answer tests. I think it's because I have to decipher the question and then apply what I know. Definitely have issues with the deciphering part....

 

[ShyRem]

Nikki, my bio prof did the same thing. I thought it was horrible. i'd rather have an essay exam than those POS exams she'd dole out. My other bio prof did a mix of mc/fill-in-the-blank/essay. Much better. my biochem prof was ALL essay and wanted every tiny stinkin' little itty bitty detail. Harder than **** exams, but fairer than bio.

 

[remo]

I vote for MC. At least then I don't have to worry about some undergrad TA deciding whether my essay answer is good enough. The grading on essay-type questions can be too subjective IMO.

 

[Pretty POHA]

ok--here's the deal--i'm taking evolution right now and my prof gives these cracked out multiple choice exams. There are five different answers, and you circle as many that are correct. I could be all or 1--you get credit for circling the right ones and not circling the wrong ones--if you circle a wrong one or don't circle a right one, then you get points deducted. It would be ok if you could acually tell what answers are correct after studying your ass of for 2 weeks. we had one yesterday--i thought the mcat was easier--pain and agony--people actually crying afterwards......not a good scene.....my prof loved it.

That sadistic bastard! That's a horrible way to test students! I know I'll probably experience it at some point, but I hope I never have a teacher like that!!!

 

[firebird69guy]

Does anyone else have problems taking multiple choice exams? just wondering if i was the only one. im the kinda guy that excells off of partial credit. absolutely hate it

I hear ya... you must have taken NPB 101 from UC Davis. There are many other classes at Davis that screw you up with multiple choice questions. They are actually harder to perform on than essays if you really know your stuff.

 

[dajimmers]

I usually prefer MC exams, just because they are more "standardized" I guess. Some essay questions rock, but they are so subjectively graded oftentimes. The "multiple multiple choice" exams Nikki and others mention suck- a prof that gave one had to have a normal MC redo b/c she couldn't figure out how to grade it 🙄

Some classes (orgo, for example) do seem to be better w/ short answer (fill in the synthesis, name the structure, etc.).

 

[jbrice1639]

i'd have to just say there's advantages to both...one the essay side you have partial credit and the bs factor that can get you points even if you don't really know what you're talking about...with multiple choice, you have the help of seeing the right answer and having that possibly trigger your memory and the ability to work backwards if there's any type of calculations involved.