What are objective tests?

An objective test question is one in which answers are selected from or compared to a limited set of pre-defined responses to a question. The electronic marking of the responses is completely non-subjective because no judgement has to be made on the correctness or otherwise of an answer at the time of marking. However, it's worth remembering that an objective test is only as objective as the test's designer makes it.

Parts of an objective test question:

• Stem: the phrasing of the question
  
• Options: the alternative answers provided after the stem, one or more of which may be correct
  
• Key: the correct answer(s) in the list of options
  
• Distracters: the incorrect answer(s) in the list of options
  

For a fuller guide to objective questions see our Guide to designing objective test questions.