An exam question that is composed of a statement that the test taker must indicate if it is true or false.

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- Multiple Choice
- True/False
- Matching
- Short Answer
- Essay
- Computational

Types of Written Examination Questions

Exam questions: Types, characteristics, and suggestions. Centre for Teaching Excellence. (2021, November 12). Retrieved November 12, 2021, from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/exams/questions-types-characteristics-suggestions. 

Exam questions: Types, characteristics, and suggestions. Centre for Teaching Excellence.

An exam question composed of one question and multiple different answer choices of which only one is correct.

Multiple Choice Questions

True/False Questions

An exam question where a test taker pairs one item from one list to one item on a second list. Matching questions test recall and recognition.

Matching Questions

An exam question composed of a brief prompt that demands an answer that ranges from a few words to a few sentences.

Short Answer Questions

An exam question composed of a complex prompt that demands an answer that ranges of several paragraphs to several pages.

Essay Questions

An exam question where test takers perform calculations to solve for an answer.

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