Matching Questions

        Matching test items, along with true-false and multiple choice, are selection items. They are specialized for use when measuring the student's ability to identify the relationship between a set of similar items, each of which has two components, such as words and their definitions, symbols and their meanings, dates and events, people and their accomplishments, etc. Of the two objectives listed below, only the second one is appropriate for a matching item

        Objective A: Students will be able to explain the process of photosynthesis.

        Objective B: Students will be able to identify primary characters in novels they read.

        In measuring accomplishment of objective A, the question would probably be one calling for the student to write a response. In contrast, Objective B states that the students will be able to "identify" primary characters. This implies some type of selection question in which the answers are provided, and the task of the student is recognition. The rest of the objective (primary characters in novels they read) indicates a series of novels, each with its respective primary character.

        One matching item can replace several true-false or short answer items (and require less reading for the students). Matching items are generally easy to write and score when the test content and objectives are suitable for matching questions. Possible difficulties in using matching items may arise due to poor student handwriting or printing, or students' being able to guess correct answers through the process of elimination.

        In developing matching items, there are two columns of material (Example 1).The items in the column on the left (Column A) are usually called premises and assigned numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). Those in the column on the right (Column B) are called responses and designated by capital letters, as in Example 1. Capital letters are used rather than lower case letters in case some students have reading problems. Also there are apt to be fewer problems in scoring the student's handwritten responses if capital letters are used.