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Preparation and Setting of a Question Paper

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Ramya Ravi Neethu Jose

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Review Article RFP Journal of Hospital Administration
Volume 4 Number 1, January-June 2020

Preparation and Setting of a Question Paper

Ramya K R, Neethu Jose

How to cite this article:

Ramya K R, Neethu Jose, Preparation and Setting of a Question Paper. RFP Journal of Hospital Administration. 2020;4(1):50-52

Abstarct Authors Affiliation:

1
Assistant Professor, 2Asst Professor, RAK College
Evaluation is the one of the most troublesome of Nursing, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University
area in education. Written examination is the most (RAKMHSU), Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Jubilee Mission College
widely used method of evaluation and assessment. of Nursing, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research
Most of the times questions are prepared just before Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
the examination and are bypassing the quality check, Correspondence and Reprint Requests: Ramya K R,
Which may lead to confusion or misinterpretation Assistant Professor, RAK College of Nursing, RAK Medical
of the questions by the students. This article focuses & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU), Ras Al Khaimah,
UAE.
at providing the guidelines and a scientific method
of preparing a good question paper to improve the E-mail: raviramya11@[Link]
quality of evaluation and assessment of students. Received on 30.11.2019, Accepted on 15.02.2020
Key words: Evaluation; Examination; Assessment;
Question Paper; Quality, Guidelines.
5. Refining the question paper
6. Editing the question paper
Introduction
7. Review of the question paper

Written examination is the widely accepted tool

of evaluation in both formative and summative Design of the question paper
evaluation. It cannot be replaced entirely by any The decision on the design of the question paper
other method. Written examination leaves a record is a policy decision, which has to be made by the
for revaluation in case of a controversy.2 While Dean/Principal of the college / institution. The
this is not possible in practical and viva voice. The points to be decided are:
instrument used in the written examination is the i. Weightage to be given to different forms
question paper. Evaluation is done in two ways: of questions. i.e how many essays, short
formative(term/sessional) and summative (year answers,or multiple choice questions
end/university).3 For both methods question paper should be decided to make a balanced
setting is an important task. The quality of the question paper. It should be decided on the
question paper can be improved by adequate and number of questions in subjects, marks for
systematic preparation. each type of questions, and the time allotted
for the paper. Also the number of sections
Question Paper Setting/ Preparation in each question paper also to be decided.
There are seven steps involved in preparing a
ii. Weightage to be given to learning objectives
question paper:
and to topics or areas of the subject.
1. Design of the question paper
2. Preparation of a blue print of the question iii. If the objectives are already divided into
paper must know, desirable to know and nice
to know categories, the same can be
3. Preparation of a model question paper. adapted in the question paper. As the
4. Preparation of a marking scheme term examinations prepare the students to

© Red Flower Publication Pvt. Ltd.

 Ramya K R, Neethu Jose / Preparation and Setting of a Question Paper 51

develop competency in terms of knowledge Once the above decisions are made, it is
and skills that is supposed to be acquire by advisable to write them in clear and simple terms.
the end of the course, the final examination Such documents will help at a later period to write
question paper should not be made very instructions to the question paper setters.
difficult. But the question paper should
assess whether the student has achieved Preparation of blue print of the question paper
the minimal skills and knowledge.
Blue print of a question paper, is the table of
iv. Guidelines regarding the use of options, specifications, is a two dimensional chart giving
nature of sections and difficulty level of the placement of different question (in terms of mark
paper are also required to be delineated. and number) in respect to the objectives or learning

Table 1: Blue-print of a question paper

Objectives/content Knowledge (Recall) Understanding Application Skill Total
area (Interpretation) (Problem solving)
LA SA SN DB AB LA SA SN DB AB LA SA SN DB AB
Cardiology 1 1 1 1
Oncology 1 1
Plastic surgery 1
Neurology 1 1 1
Disaster 1
Nephrology 1 1
Critical care 2
Geriatrics 1
Total 1 2 5 - 1 - 1 - 3 1 1 - - - 1
LA: Long Answer SA: Short Answer SN: Short notes AB: Answer briefly DB: Differentiate between

outcome, content area and the form of question. recommended. While reviewing questions to refine
Preparation of a model question paper them, the following questions need to be asked:
i. Does the question test an important
Preparation of a model question paper learning outcome?
ii. Is it based on pre-determined objective?
The model question paper is written on an item
card. A model item card is given below. iii. Is the scope well defined as regards to:
• Clarity of directions
Table 2: Model item card
• Language of the questions
Objective: Marks:
Content area/Topic: Estimated difficulty level:
• Length of the answers
Form of Question: Estimated time: • Marking scheme
Question: • Appropriateness of difficulty level
Model answer Points of Marks for points iv. A question must be relevant to the course
answer objectives.
v. Q u e s t i o n s mu s t e mp h a s i s o n t he
Preparation of marking scheme p r o fe s s io n a l s k il l a n d co mp e t e nc e .
Once a model paper has been prepared, the next vi. The questions should not relate to trivial or
step is to evolve a marking scheme. The purpose of insufficient, vague and diffuse topics.
marking scheme is to assign proportions of marks vii. Questions on a rare phenomenon or entity
to different parts of the answer. There are two types does not represent higher learning and
of marking schemes- Analytical(objective type and does not necessarily judge the practical
short answer type) and Global(long answer type). and professional ability of the student and
hence must be avoided as far as possible.
Refining the question paper viii. The length of the question paper must be
After model question paper and marking scheme reasonably feasible for an average student
has been made, a second critical look at the is to answer within stipulated time.
RFP Journal of Hospital Administration / Volume 4 Number 1 / January- June 2020
 52 Ramya K R, Neethu Jose / Preparation and Setting of a Question Paper

ix. The mark for each question is predetermined, Review of the question paper
and it should be proportional to the length
The question paper may be reviewed with the help of
and difficulty level of the question.
a check list. the final step is to ensure confidentiality
x. The questions sampled should be such that by sending rough sheets to the university or
uniform coverage of the entire curriculum destroying them as per the instructions.
is done.
xi. The language should be clear, and
Conclusion
unambiguous, understandable by an
average student.
A systematic approach will improve question paper
xii. Special care may be taken to avoid spelling
setting in our examinations. The steps involved are
or grammatical errors which may cause
plan the design, prepare the blue-print, prepare a
confusion or even alter the meaning.
model question paper, prepare marking scheme,
xiii. Open ended questions are apt to encourage refine the questions, edit the questions, review
rambling by a student and it may be the question paper, and final typing / writing and
difficult to ascertain substance amidst the dispatch.
verbiage.
xiv. Short answer question without a stem or
References
verb do not indicate precisely what the
examiner wants.
1. Reddy KR, Mechanics of Question Paper Setting,
Medical Education | Journal of Gandaki Medical
Editing the question paper College-Nepal, Volume 10 | Issue 02 | July-
Editing is the next step in the preparation of the December 2017; 64–67.
question paper. While editing, the following points 2. Reddy KR. Correlation seminars in basic sciences at
to be checked: Gandaki Medical College. JGMCN 2016;9(1):57–61.
i. Grouping questions according to the 3. Gronlund NE. Measurement and evaluation in
objectives, form of questions,content area teaching. 3rd ed., New York: MacMillan Publishing
Co. Inc., 1976.
etc.
ii. Numbering of the questions
iii. Instructions for administration.

RFP Journal of Hospital Administration / Volume 4 Number 1 / January-June 2020

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