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5.1: Question Types Overview

The ADAPT WeBWorK Handbook · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    This section introduces core question types used across many assessment systems. These are often useful for concept checks, terminology, and simple workflows that do not require WeBWorK-style answer parsing or algorithmic randomization.

    In this textbook, question types are treated as a practical authoring skill: you learn the patterns in Chapter 5, and then Advanced PGML Techniques shows how to apply those patterns in specific scientific subjects.

    Use Multiple Choice when there is one best scientific claim and you can write distractors that represent real misconceptions. Use Multiple Answer when the concept is a set and you can define the set boundaries clearly. Use Matching for term-to-meaning mapping, Fill in the Blank for short labels with controlled variants, and Ordered List only when the sequence is truly standard in your context.

    Life science questions fail in predictable ways: naming conventions drift, unit prefixes drift, and prompts quietly allow more than one interpretation. When that risk is high, prefer recognition-style items with explicit wording, or switch to WeBWorK answer checking where you can enforce structure.

    How this fits a PGML-first course

    • Use WeBWorK (PGML-first) for numeric and formula-based practice where robust parsing and answer checking matters.
    • Use these question types for portable, simple interaction patterns (multiple choice, matching, ordering, fill-in-the-blank).

    Science prompt style (recommended)

    • Keep the story stable and short.
    • Use explicit numbers and units in the prompt when relevant.
    • Prefer tables for data instead of long prose when the problem is data-driven.
    • For concept checks, write distractors that reflect common misconceptions.

    Input conventions

    Each type is defined by a small set of inputs. The next sections show a science example for each type using those inputs.

    This page titled 5.1: Question Types Overview was last modified on Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:34:32 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Neil R. Voss.