Quote:
|
Originally Posted by mbyron
When you take these tests, please bear in mind that the test makers intend that no one receives 100%. If they have to write impossibly worded questions to achieve that result, they will.
The rationale behind that goal is that folks who miss questions will be more motivated to go to the books. We might quibble with the pedagogy, but the evidence here is that the means suit the end.
|
There are too many gunmen on your grassy knoll!
Do you know any of the test makers? And they told you this? I seriously doubt what you say is true.
There is no way a test maker, in his effort to make sure nobody scores a 100%, would
purposely create a question that would result in an overwhelming consensus about it being COMPLETELY SCREWED UP.
Just as we who take the tests have pride in doing well; those who create the tests have pride in creating fair and challenging questions.
Most poorly worded, or convoluted questions, are well-intended - it just comes out wrong. Something gets lost in the translation. In other words, they are the result of honest mistakes.
The guys who make the questions also have pride. I do not accept the notion (as you are inferring) that they sit down and deliberately conjure up screwed up questions that are designed to mislead and create false impressions.
Whoever authored this screwed up IFF/intentionally dropped ball question would probably openly admit (in retrospect), "Yeah, I worded that horribly. That's not what I intended to say. Crap! Sorry - bad question."
David Emerling
Memphis, TN