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Table 5 Comparison of MCQ marks for re-used questions

From: Analysis of MCQ and distractor use in a large first year Health Faculty Foundation Program: assessing the effects of changing from five to four options

Coursea

No. of students sitting exam

Resultsb

p-value

1st offering

2nd offering

1st offering

2nd offering

Chem A

(18/25 questions)

741

767

11.8 ± 2.6 (78.4%)

11.6 ± 2.6 (76.6%)

.188

Chem B

(28/50 questions)

512

551

17.8 ± 5.2 (65.8%)

17.5 ± 5.3 (64.6%)

.333

A&P A

(20/60 questions)

736

770

13.9 ± 3.7 (69.7%)

14.5 ± 3.5 (72.2%)%

.007

A&P B

(24/60 questions)

581

614

14.1 ± 3.8 (67.1%)

13.7 ± 3.6 (65.4%)

.116

  1. a(number of questions repeated in both offerings/total number of MCQ in the exam)
  2. bMean mark ±1 SD; average % mark on these re-used questions given in parentheses