Mcq Multiple Choice Questions Examination Without Errors In Pharmacology

• ORIGINAL ARTICLE | ISSUE DETAILS: VOL NO.2 | ISSUE NO. 2

Abstract

Background: MCQs have been implemented by several medical institutes during the last few years. Maintaining the high quality of these MCQs is crucial. This study aims to assess the MCQ quality by identifying errors in the item writing of Bacha Khan Medical College’s pharmacy examinations.

Study design: A cross-sectional descriptive Study

Duration and place of study: department of Pharmacology at Bacha Khan Medical College from Jan 2005 to July 2005

Methods: This analytical research assessed the item writing flaws (IWF) of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in terms of (a) issues about irrelevant difficulty and (b) issues about test wisdom, which were used in the Bacha Khan Medical College’s final pharmacology examinations. Every multiple-choice question was given a unique rating based on its irrelevant difficulty and test knowledge. Grade 1 was assigned for no IWF, Grade 2 for one IWF, and Grade 3 for several.

Results: One hundred MCQs in all were examined. Most of the things were found to be correct in item writing. Of the MCQs of irrelevant difficulty, 75% had no IWF—ninety percent of the multiple-choice questions needed to have test-wise problems.

Conclusion: Even though the majority of the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) were free of IWF, a significant portion had errors. It is advised that each topic has a systematic faculty development process to raise the quality of MCQs.