Item analysis of Multiple Choice Questions

1. Item Analysis in MCQs
Mr. Muthuvenkatachalam S. D.Pharm, M.Sc (AIIMS), PhD Scholar (RGUHS)
Associater Professor,
Pal College of Nursing and Medical Sciences,
Haldwani, Uttarakhand

2. After you create your MCQ items and
give your test,
how can you be sure that the items are
appropriate -- not too difficult and not
too easy?
How will you know if the test effectively
differentiates between students who do
well on the overall test and those who do
not?

3. Item Analysis
Student Total Score (%) Questions
I II III
Ram 92 1 0 1
Swetha 90 0 0 1
Ajmal 85 1 0 1
John 80 1 0 1
Prabhu 78 1 0 1
Rajesh 70 1 0 0
Asif 65 1 0 1
Manish 55 1 0 0
Sam 48 1 1 0
Manu 45 0 0 0

4. Student Total Score (%) Questions
Q -I Q-II Q-III
Ram 92 1 0 1
Swetha 90 0 0 1
Ajmal 85 1 0 1
John 80 1 0 1
Prabhu 78 1 0 1
Rajesh 70 1 1 0
Asif 65 1 1 1
Manish 55 1 0 0
Sam 48 1 1 0
Manu 45 0 0 0
Item # Correct (Upper Gr) # Correct (Lower Gr) Difficulty Ind Discriminatn Ind
Q 1 4 4 ? ?
Q 2 0 3 ? ?
Q 3 5 1 ? ?

5. Item # Correct (Upper Gr)
X
# Correct (Lower Gr)
Y
Difficulty Ind Discriminatn Ind
Q 1 4 4 0.8 ?
Q 2 0 3 ? ?
Q 3 5 1 ? ?
Difficulty Index = (X+Y)/N
= (4+4)/10
= 0.8

6. Item # Correct (Upper Gr)
X
# Correct (Lower Gr)
Y
Difficulty Ind Discriminatn Ind
Q 1 4 4 0.8 0
Q 2 0 3 0.3 -0.6
Q 3 5 1 0.6 0.8
Discrimination Index = (X-Y)/(N/2)
= (4-4)/(10/2)
= 0/5
= 0

7. Conclusion
• Questions with moderate
difficulty index and high
discrimination index are
considered ideal.