Distractor Analysis

Question 1

What is the role of an effective (good) distractor?

Answer 1

Effective distractors should attract students who do not know the correct answer.

Question 2

What are the three characteristics of an ideal distractor?

Answer 2

The ideal distractor:
- is plausible
- is relevant to the content
- attracts a reasonable proportion of incorrect responses (usually 5-15% of all responses)

Question 3

Case study
A distractor is never, or rarely, chosen by candidates. Why might this be? What do you recommend?

Answer 3

If a distractor is rarely chosen, it may be implausible or obviously incorrect. Consider revising the distractor.