Ecient Scoring of Multiple-Choice tests

Notation efficace des questions à choix multiples

Alexis Direr ()
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Alexis Direr: LEO - Laboratoire d'Économie d'Orleans [2022-...] - UO - Université d'Orléans - UT - Université de Tours - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne

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Abstract: This paper studies the optimal scoring of multiple choice tests in which the marks for wrong selections and omissions jointly minimize the mean square dierence between score and examinees' abilities. Examinees are loss averse and, as a result, reluctant to risk answers on the basis of their knowledge. I nd that it is ecient to incentivize the lowest able to omit, except when the test has a very large number of items. The mark for omission is positive when the test size is limited and negative when it is large. Loss aversion generally improves estimators eciency by spontaneously inducing more omission and thereby reducing the need to bias the mark upward to encourage omission.The model sheds light on the statistical properties of two widely used scoring methods, Number right scoring and Formula scoring.

Keywords: Loss aversion; Decision making; Multiple choice tests; Estimation theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10-24
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05384180v1
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Published in Revue Economique, 2025, 76 (3), pp.417-435. ⟨10.3917/reco.763.0417⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05384180

DOI: 10.3917/reco.763.0417

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