Extended matching question (EMQ)

The extended matching question requires test-takers to match a grouped set of stems to a list of consistent answer options.

Building an EMQ item

To build an EMQ item:

• Step 1 of 3

  Navigate to Items and Create new item.

  

• Step 2 of 3

  Complete the fields on the new item screen.

  

  1. Item type: Select Extended matching question from the dropdown menu
  2. Item title: Give the item a name. This is entirely free-text and at your discretion, but it is required. This is not visible to candidates during the exam, but it can optionally be used later in the candidate feedback report.
  3. Item number: The item number auto populates but can be overwritten. Each item type maintains its own sequential index from 1-n (e.g. ARQ1, ARQ2 / SBA1, SBA2 etc.). By default this field will receive the next available sequential number for that item type.

• Step 3 of 3

  The basic form fields for the item type are now made available.

  

  1. Item number: This is the item number established in the previous step. It can no longer be changed. 
  2. Question author(s): Unless specified, the question author will default to the current user. Alternatively you can select another author if you are inputting the material on someone else's behalf. Start typing a name in the field and the system will suggest names based on the list of users present in the system.
  3. Item title: The item title entered int he previous step. This can be changed here.
  4. Summary: This is the item lead in. You can use the WYSIWYG editor to write a general question prompt.
  5. Comments: The comments field is used for notes against the item. These do not appear to candidates and are for administrative use only.
  6. Item notes: The item notes field can be made available to candidates in the candidate feedback report and is designed to be used for any predetermined answer justification.
  7. Answer order: This controls the order in which response options are presented to test-takers (if answer order randomisation is not used). The options are:
  • Default: Answers are presented in alphanumeric order
  • Custom: Answers are presented in the same order as they appear in the authoring interface

Adding the answer options

The next step is to add the appropriate answer options.

At the bottom of the page click Add new answer to add as many option fields as are required. Add in the answer options as required.

Type in your answers and click Save & reload.

Adding the stems

The EMQ uses several individual stems as part of its item structure, and so the final step is to set these up.

• Step 1 of 3

  Navigate to the Questions section and overtype the first stem.

  

  1. Question stem: The question prompt to be presented to the candidate
  2. Correct answers: Choose the correct answer fro the list set up in the previous step
  3. Angoff: An Angoff rating for later standard setting can be banked against the item. If a value is given, this will be used if Angoff is selected as the standard-setting method. Each sub-part can have its own Angoff value stored.
  4. Ebel: If Ebel standard setting is used, you can bank the difficulty and relevance values agains the item. Each sub-part can have its own set of Ebel values stored.

• Step 2 of 3

  Then repeat this process using Add new question stem until all question prompts have been added.

  

  Click Save.

• Step 3 of 3

  You will de directed back to the question information page. Optionally you can can add a Count as coordinate value for each individual stem to support more granular blueprinting of the item. You can read more about the count as feature here.

  

Item preview

In the browser application, the EMQ item presents the question lead in on the left and the individual stems and answers on the right hand side. Test-takers are required to select the a single response for each of the individual stems.