Multiple Choice Exams

[quote=GrandmasterD][quote=The_Nameless_Bard][quote=jhoijhoi]Also, if you're so smart, why didn't you go into college/uni? Seems like a near-photographic memory for facts, figures and formulae would do exceedingly well in tertiary education.[/quote]In all honesty, my emotional problems are the main reason why. I have an immense fear of failure holding me back right now. I went to college 4 years ago, as a Music Performance major, (with a lot of money in scholarships due to my score on the college entrance exam and auditioning for music scholarships), but I had an emotional breakdown the second semester (due to being in a very abusive relationship all throughout) wherein I nearly killed myself. I dropped out after the first year to help my mother (who had just been diagnosed with Leukemia) run her business because she was too sick to do it herself. Until about 8 months ago, I was still helping with that. At this point, I've started discussing it again, but it comes down to deciding on a degree and on a school.[/quote] And the queen of derailing strikes again... No seriously, while I'm sure that everyone here, who actually experience emotions on a daily basis, will agree on the fact that it's a touching story, I do think we're getting a little bit off-topic here.[/quote]

[quote=The_Nameless_Bard]I was answering her question, how was that not on-topic? ;o[/quote]

[quote=GrandmasterD][quote=The_Nameless_Bard]I was answering her question, how was that not on-topic? ;o[/quote] Her question wasn't on topic![/quote]

[quote=Vynertje]@OP: Multiple choice is fine. I just had an accounting exam which was 100% MC, but with a so called 'chance-correction' which means you have to have at least 25% correct answers to even have a 1 (the lowest possible score). As long as the test is well-made (with 4 plausible answers for every question instead of 2/3 completely dumb) you can eliminate the luck factor pretty well.[/quote]

[quote=GrandmasterD][quote=Vynertje]@OP: Multiple choice is fine. I just had an accounting exam which was 100% MC, but with a so called 'chance-correction' which means you have to have at least 25% correct answers to even have a 1 (the lowest possible score). As long as the test is well-made (with 4 plausible answers for every question instead of 2/3 completely dumb) you can eliminate the luck factor pretty well.[/quote] Kind of odd to do so, unless the amount of questions is very low. I mean as I pointed out, passing on luck is practically impossible. Also, I do need to point out that the actual options are irrelevant if we're talking about luck.[/quote]

[quote=jhoijhoi]Amanda: That all sounds horrible (besides the part where you helped your mum run her business, that's lovely). I hope you get back into college![/quote]

[quote=lifebaka][quote=XeresAce]Just out of curiosity, would you consider the world "phantasmagorical" needlessly complex? :'D[/quote] Unless you're writing Poe-esque horror... Probably. It depends on context, though, and what exactly you were trying to say. [quote=GrandmasterD]Been there, done that. I also skip quite a bit of steps when doing maths compared to most, or simply use other methods altogether. I don't have time for pointless crap, and I sure as hell am not going to treat the one who is teaching me this stuff as someone who needs everything spelt out.[/quote] My experience with higher math is that professors care less and less whether or not you show all your work as you go up. You still need to show some work, primarily because not showing any work becomes somewhat impossible, but professors are hardly going to care if you combine a dozen or so steps of basic algebra. Then you get into the weird stuff. [quote=Vynertje]Multiple choice is fine. I just had an accounting exam which was 100% MC, but with a so called 'chance-correction' which means you have to have at least 25% correct answers to even have a 1 (the lowest possible score). As long as the test is well-made (with 4 plausible answers for every question instead of 2/3 completely dumb) you can eliminate the luck factor pretty well.[/quote] There're some major standardized tests here in the US that use chance-correction systems; specifically I'm thinking of the SAT. Generally, they penalize incorrect answers minorly, to offset the points gained on average by totally random guessing. So if there're five answer choices, the correct answer is worth a point and each incorrect answer is worth -1/4 points. Skipping the question is worth zero. The idea is that if you guess, you'll get one out of every five questions right on average, so you end up with no points unless you're doing better than that average. [url=http://sat.collegeboard.org/scores/how-sat-is-scored]Here's the website explaining it.[/url][/quote]

[quote=TROLLing1999]I think the best(even though not always fair) way to test the student's knowledge along with how regularly they study is to test them without warning. Whether MC type questions or not, the grade will be low unless the student is studying on a daily/weekly basis.[/quote]

[quote=utopus][quote=The_Nameless_Bard]In all honesty, my emotional problems are the main reason why. I have an immense fear of failure holding me back right now. I went to college 4 years ago, as a Music Performance major, (with a lot of money in scholarships due to my score on the college entrance exam and auditioning for music scholarships), but I had an emotional breakdown the second semester (due to being in a very abusive relationship all throughout) wherein I nearly killed myself. I dropped out after the first year to help my mother (who had just been diagnosed with Leukemia) run her business because she was too sick to do it herself. Until about 8 months ago, I was still helping with that. At this point, I've started discussing it again, but it comes down to deciding on a degree and on a school.[/quote] Damn amanda. You're one tough cookie :)[/quote]

[quote=The_Nameless_Bard][quote=utopus]Damn amanda. You're one tough cookie :)[/quote]eh. I broke down and nearly gave up, that suggests weakness more than anything.[/quote]