As teachers, all we really want to know is: Did they learn what I think I’ve taught them? The challenge is finding a simple, fast way to answer that question.
Oral checks at the end of class are great — but with 20 students, I’d need another lesson just to ask them all. Exams have their place, but in IB Diploma Psychology, written exams often only test a small slice of the syllabus. We know Social Identity Theory might not even show up. So how do I know if my students truly understand it?
Over the years, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with multiple choice tests. They take time to write, but once they’re built, they become one of the most efficient formative tools we have. Students actually like them — they can focus purely on content without the pressure of writing structure, command terms, or phrasing. I simply get a clear snapshot: do they know it or not?
That’s why I created a book of 70 multiple choice tests for the new IB Psychology syllabus. No, MCQs aren’t part of the official exam. But as quick, focused checks of cumulative knowledge, they’re one of the best tools I’ve found to guide my teaching.
Tom Coster - Psychology 
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