What do you like better, objective tests or subjective tests?

Question

objective tests: multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, and true/false

subjective: essay and short answer

Answer 1

It depends on what you are testing. If you are testing retention and basic understanding, then objective tests are better. If you are looking for more in depth analysis, then, obviously, subjective is better.

Objective tests tend to be more accurate. For one thing, a clever student can BS his/her way through an essay question and still get a reasonable grade; while a less literate student who studied hard might get a poor grade because they cannot express them self as well in an essay format. Also, the grade on subjective tests can be influenced by the opinion of the grader rather than the accuracy of the answer. For example, I once received a poor grade on a Creative Writing assignment because the grader didn't like the story, and said as much in his comments; the teacher of the class regraded the paper and gave me a much higher grade because he agreed, 'not liking the story', was not a valid reason to give an otherwise well written and constructed piece a poor grade.

One final note, don't assume that multiple choice and the other test types you mention must be objective. My wife once took a multiple choice test were all of the answers were 'correct', but you had to choose the 'best' answer. Likewise, essay and short answer can be graded using objective methods.

Answer 2

It basically means NO essay or open-ended questions. Objective tests are about having one right answer, while subjective tests are essay-based and usually have questions you can debate or explain fully.

Answer 3

i like objective tests better

Answer 4

Subjective by far!!!! That is a truer measure of what you have learned, although it doesn't neccessarily work in mathamatics.

Answer 5

objective: they're easier and faster