Evaluation of Multiple-Choice and Free-Response Formats in English Language Tests: Are They Gender-Biased?

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Date

2001-10

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The choice as to which mode (s) of assessment to employ in constructing tests and/or examinations can affect the relative performance of male and female candidates. I t has been said by scholars that multiple-choice format favours male candidates while free-response format is to the advantage of female candidates. The present study was conducted on the basis of the data gathered from 114 (57 male and 57 female) candidates who were made to take multiple-choice and free-response versions of the same test. The result of the t-tests conducted to assess whether the difference between the performances of the male and female candidates on the two versions of the test was stati stically significant showed that femaletestees, compared with their male counterparts, performed better on the free-response test than they did on the multiple-choice mode of assessment, whereas the opposite is true for the male candidates. Based on the findings, the necessary conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.

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Evaluation Multiple-Choice

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