Most questions on exams are in traditional multiple-choice format with a single correct answer. However, exams also use common alternative item types such as:
- Multiple correct options—allows multiple choices to be correct
- Point and click—requires examinees to click on part of a graphic to answer
- Drag and drop—requires examinees to click on and drag items to match, sort, rank, or label
- Fill in the blank—provides a space for examinees to enter a numerical response to the question
Exception—The PE Structural breadth exams contain only traditional multiple-choice questions. The PE Structural depth exams contain only alternative item types. All other exams include both traditional multiple choice and alternative item types.
All questions, including alternative item types, are scored as either correct or incorrect. No partial credit is given. Videos describing alternative item types and other exam functions are posted on the NCEES YouTube Channel.
All exams include a limited number of pretest items that will not be scored and will not have an impact on results. This is common practice within high-stakes testing and allows NCEES to evaluate the pretest items for potential use in future exams. These items are randomly placed within the exam and are not identifiable as pretest items.
