WHAT MAKES A GOOD EXAM QUESTION? • Dr. Gerry Hyde | State Examinations Commission Ireland

After taking degrees in chemistry (1996) and mathematics (1997) at University College Cork, Gerry completed his doctoral thesis in computational quantum chemistry at the University of Cambridge and worked as a post-doctoral researcher in electronic structure theory at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Gerry taught Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Applied Maths in a secondary school in Cork for ten years before joining the State Examinations Commission in 2013, where his roles include Chief Examiner for Science and Chief Examiner for Physics. This work involves the preparation of examination question papers and management of the marking of work presented for examination.

Gerry will outline the assessment principles underpinning the work of the SEC in producing examination instruments and examine an integrated approach to writing examination questions and marking schemes. He will briefly discuss a number of factors relevant to question writing, including readability, command words, writing selected/constructed response questions, examination rubrics and selection of stimulus material. Gerry will analyse questions using a wide variety of exemplar materials, including Junior Cycle Science and Leaving Certificate Physics, and discuss forthcoming changes in syllabus and assessment.

www.examinations.ie

FRONTIERS OF PHYSICS 2019 TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE
WIT
28 September 2019
Camera : Marek Bogacki
Produced by DOCUMENTAVI MMXIX