The use of context in exam questions

Abstract

Teaching that uses real-life examples or contexts can be engaging and beneficial in the classroom. However, caution is needed when using context in exam questions. Unfocused contextualised questions can threaten the validity of an exam paper. On the other hand, questions containing unforced real-life context that focuses on the matter being tested can improve validity. This literature review explores the benefits and possible drawbacks of using context in exam questions.

Keywords

• Accessibility
• Assessment Design
• Fairness
• Gender
• Social Equity
• Validity