A probabilistic scoring method in multiple-choice testing incorporating partial knowledge

The traditional method for scoring multiple-choice tests is when a student picks one option as the answer. This method however, has been heavily criticized, as it can lead to students guessing and also takes no account of a student's partial knowledge. The scheme developed here, based on simple probability theory, is tested against another method which takes partial knowledge into account namely, the elimination method for multiple-choice tests. The scheme is also tested against the conventional dichotomous method of scoring. It was found that the relatively easy-to-use probabilistic scoring method gave similar results to the elimination testing, whereas lower results were found when compared with the conventional dichotomous method. The results due to the probabilistic scoring method were consistently more reliable than those due to the conventional dichotomous method.