Page 41 - EVALUATION ENGLISH

Evaluation Reforms

6. Question Bank

6.1 Need of Question Bank

Teaching and evaluation complement each other, hence changes are not only required of the
evaluation aspect, rather changes need to be effected both in teaching and evaluation. Question
banks, thus is an attempt to integrate both teaching and evaluation. Preparation of question
bank makes use of accumulated experience of teachers which renders effective examining of
students.

The need for setting of question paper through the question bank system is felt due to an
increasing number of students enrolling for higher education programmes thus increasing the
load which the existing pattern of examining must bear; curriculum revisions; inter-disciplinary
nature of subjects due to integration of course contents from diverse courses; and need for
increasing involvement of teachers in the evaluation process. Consequently, there is a constant
need for development of standards and quality of examination along with demand for fair and
just evaluation process.

The question papers that are set using the traditional paper setting procedure by calling experts
may lead to repetition of questions and that they just test information recall, whereas, there
is a need to test analytical skills of students. Question banks lead to setting of better quality
questions that are valid and appropriate to test the abilities desired of students.

Setting of Question Papers through the Question Bank System is a much needed reform in
the examination system. It reduces administrative mechanisms for conduct of paper setting
process. A pool of experts of the concerned subject shall be contributors to an exhaustive
question bank. The question bank system provides a platform for a wider participation of
academicians with active collaboration in setting questions based on revised Blooms taxonomy.
The involvement of many experts from different institutions will lead to setting of paper of
good quality as teachers with known expertise on a particular unit/module can set questions
only on the said topic/module. Well-developed question banks, as a matter of fact lead to and
influence curriculum development.

To be effective, it is necessary that the question bank must have a large number of questions of a
particular course. With the use of ICT based system the question paper sets can be drawn within
minutes. However the system requires an approved standard format/pattern of the question
paper.

6.2 Important Considerations
The question bank system should also take into consideration the following:

a) That questions are drawn from each unit of the syllabus
b) That the questions drawn meet the Programme Objectives and Outcomes of the
course
c) Questions should span all difficulty levels and each question be marked with its
difficulty level

d) Should include questions of every type as per Section such as Long Answer, Short
Answer and Very Short Answer Questions must specify the expected length and
suggested time for completion. Objective items must include Recognition Type and
Supply Type of items. The probability of making blind guesses should be reduced.

Evaluation Reforms in Higher Educational Institutions 39