1. Anatomy of a Single-best –answer
Multiple Choice Item
From BYU

2. 3 parts
• Stem
• Options (or distractors)
• Key

3. Stem
• The stem is the sentence, or sentences, that
introduces the problem to be solved. It is
recommended that the stem take the shape of
a complete question
• “What is chiefly responsible for the increase in
the average length of life in the USA in the
last fifty years?”

4. Options and key
• These are the suggested solutions to the problem
addressed in the stem
• There should be one best answer and 2-4 distractors
• The purpose of the distractors is to appear as plausible
solutions to the problem for those students who have
not achieved the objective being measured by the test
item. Conversely, the distractors must appear as
implausible solutions for those students who have
achieved the objective. Only the answer should appear
plausible to these students.

5. A complete item
• “What is chiefly responsible for the increase in the
average length of life in the USA in the last fifty
years?”
A. Compulsory health and physical education
courses in public schools.
B. The reduced death rate among infants and
young children
C. The safety movement, which has greatly
reduced the number of deaths from accidents.
D. The substitution of machines for human labor.