THE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS: ESSAY VERSUS MULTIPLE-CHOICE TYPE EXAMS

The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions toward essay versus multiple-choice exams. Fifty students from a science education department participated in this study. Overall student-rating data revealed that students showed significantly (p<0.001) more favorable attitudes towards multiple choice test format compared to essay type formats in terms of the most critical dimensions assessed. These findings suggest that student perceptions should be taken into consideration while planning and constructing classroom testing. Suggestions for future research and implications for having students' perceptions are also discussed.