TRUE OR

FALSE ITEMS
Libetad D. Dolot

True or False (Alternative

Response)
-are utilized to assess a student's ability to
recognize the accuracy of a declarative
statement. Due to the nature of this type of
assessment, true-false statements are
particularly useful in measuring a student's
ability to differentiate between forcedchoice statements :

true-false

Correctincorrect

Yes- no

TRUE OR FALSE TESTS

Advantages of
True or False Test
It covers a lot
content in a short
span of time.
It is easier to
prepare compared
to multiple-choice
and matching-type
of test.
Easy to construct.

Disadvantages
of True or False
Test
Limited only to low
level of thinking
skills such as
knowledge and
comprehension, or
recognition or
recall information.

TRUE OR FALSE TESTS

Advantages of True or
False Test

]It is easier to score

because it can be scored
objectively compared to
a test that depends on
the judgement of the
rater(s).

It is useful when there

are two alternatives
only.

The score is easy to

check and is more
reliable than essay test.

Disadvantages of True or False Test

Dependence of absolute judgement at the

teachers criteria for the evaluation of the truth or
falsity of any statement.

High probability of guessing (50%).

Types of
True or
False
Tests:

Types of True or False Tests

Simple True or False
Modified True and False-underlining the
word(s) that make the statement
wrong.
True or False with Correction (e.g.
5x3=8 Answer: False 5+3=8 or
5x3=15)
Cluster True or False (e.g. T if TRUE, F
if FALSE)

Types of True or False Tests

True or False with Options (e.g.
Write A if only the first statement
is TRUE. Write B if only the
second statement is TRUE.)
Fact or Opinion-identifying if the
statement is a FACT or OPINION.
Identifying Inconsistencies in a
Paragraph

Guidelines
in Writing
True or False
Test Items

In Writing True or False Items

Avoid writing a very long statement.
Avoid trivial questions.
It should contain only one idea in each item except for
showing the relationship between cause and effect
example:
X

The true or false items, which is favored by all tests

experts ,is also called an alternative- response item.

The true or false items is also called an alternativeresponse item.

In Writing True or False Items

It can be used for establishing cause and
effect relationship.
Avoid specific determiner such as
Never, always, all, none, some,
may, etc.
Avoid grammatical clues that could lead
to a correct answer such as the article
(a,an,the)

In Writing True or False Items

Avoid using negative or double
negatives.
Good Example: Bread and grain are
at the bottom of the food
pyramid.
Poor Example: Bread and grains
are not at the top of the food
pyramid.

In Writing True or False Items

Avoid statement directly taken from
the textbook.
Avoid arranging the statements in a
logical order such as (TTTT,FFTT,FTFT)
Directions should indicate where or
how the students should mark their
answer.

In Writing True or False Items

The number of true items must be the
same with the number of false items.
Construct items that measure
important objectives.
Avoid using trick questions.
Test designers should try to make all
true-false items similar in length.

Application:

Instruction: Write TRUE if the

statement is correct and FALSE if it is
wrong
1.

The true/false item is also called an alternativeresponse item.

2.

To limit response-bias, test designers should try to

make all true-false items similar in length.

3.

One of the advantages of true or false item is , it is

less discriminating than multiple choice item.

4.

One of the disadvantages of true or false item is, it

often criticized for encouraging rote memorization.

5.

One of the disadvantages of true or false item is, it

limited only to low level of thinking skills such as
knowledge and comprehension, or recognition or
recall information.

Answer:
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True

Thank You...