What should effective written questions measure?

Effective written questions should measure the specific knowledge they intend to assess because the primary goal of any evaluation method is to gauge the learner's understanding of the relevant content. Tailoring questions to align with the objectives of the material ensures that they accurately reflect the knowledge and skills that learners are expected to acquire.

In a well-structured assessment, questions should test not just recall of facts but also comprehension, application, and critical thinking within the context of the subject matter. This focus enhances the reliability and validity of the assessment, allowing instructors to ascertain how well students have grasped the intended concepts.

Other approaches, such as creating questions on random topics, complicating questions without maintaining clarity, or solely measuring rote memorization, do not effectively evaluate a learner's mastery of the subject, potentially leading to misleading conclusions about their knowledge and abilities.