Handout: Types of Assessment Items

There are many different ways to evaluate a learner beyond a typical multiple-choice assessment. A variety of item types can be utilized to challenge a student and engage higher-level thinking skills. From developing a constructed response to creating a product or using an online interactive testing environment, there are many options available to educators when creating assessments. Through varied item types, a student can demonstrate learning on many levels ranging from basic recall to critical thinking that requires a greater depth of knowledge. This handout provides descriptions of six common types of assessment items and how they can be used in today’s classrooms.