How to Write a Good Test Question: Nine Tips for Novice Nurse Educators

Abstract

Nurses are lifelong learners who are always seeking ways to improve and perfect their skills. Test item writing is a skill that must be practiced and perfected over time. Often, nurses in a clinical role are promoted to the role of nurse educator without receiving training on how to write good test questions. This article presents nine tips for item writing to help nurse educators and clinical educators to create better test questions [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2019;50(1):12–14.].

End-of-Semester Report-Out: A Curriculum Evaluation Strategy

“…It is important to remember that the purpose of a nursing exam is to assess proficiency by ensuring alignment between the students' expected knowledge, abilities, and skills and the test item. Faculty must test "need-to-know" content, write items with an appropriate level of difficulty, and administer a fair exam (Kranz et al, 2019). Two types of longitudinal reports of student performance on exams yield powerful evaluation information: 1) cohort performance in one semester of courses or across the program and 2) performance of items of individual courses over time.…”

Preparedness to Write Items for Nursing Education Examinations

“…7 Because nursing is a practice-based profession, naturally, many nurse educators are clinically trained and then promoted "without receiving training on how to write good test questions." 12,13 There are significant consequences to the "learn as you go" approach to examination writing because these instructors are accountable to stakeholders such as the public and licensing bodies. Researchers go so far as to say that the responsibility to ensure that assessments are high quality and valid is an ethical and legal responsibility.…”

“…A typical theme notes increased success when instructors are offered faculty development seminars and best practices for item writing. [12][13][14] Statistical item analysis also provides real-time feedback to the instructor. 13,16 Preparing students for licensure by writing useful examinations is not the only complexity in nursing education.…”

“…However, this development often comes as fragmented continuing education, and few nurse educators have formal preparation 7. Because nursing is a practice-based profession, naturally, many nurse educators are clinically trained and then promoted “without receiving training on how to write good test questions.”12,13…”

“…Aptitude in item writing is fundamental to the nurse educator to prepare students for NCLEX-RN success. A typical theme notes increased success when instructors are offered faculty development seminars and best practices for item writing 12–14. Statistical item analysis also provides real-time feedback to the instructor 13,16…”