Short communication ANALYZING THE PROSPECTIVES OF INNOVATIVE MULTIPLE TRUE FALSE QUESTIONS IN ASSESSMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY FOR MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATES

Objective: Multiple true false (MTF) questions are a standardized format of assessment. MTF questions test a wide range of knowledge in a short period of time; however reports regarding this method are not so alluring. We attempted to take the MTF assessment method to a higher order by designing an innovative missing link MTF questions (MLMTF). This has an incomplete stem where a linking phrase is missing and has to be filled, following which the students are able to answer the bit statements. Method: The study was conducted among year I MBBS students of Melaka Manipal Medical College. Students were asked to study a topic in biochemistry and were assessed by both regular MTF and MLMTF tests, consecutively one after the other. Care was taken to maintain the standard of questions and to avoid repetition. Students responded to a questionnaire after the tests. Results: Group A (n=35) included students with average scores >75% in previous assessment exams; group B (n=65) with scores between 60-75% and group C (n=21) with scores < 60%. Students of group C (90%) felt that traditional MTF were easier than MLMTF compared to groups B & C (88%; 83%). Group A (100%) preferred MTF because they felt they are more accustomed to it than groups B & C (88%, 90%). Groups A& C (100%) concurred in their views that it was more suited for competitive exams than for regular exams. Conclusion: Students opined that MLMTF questions are a bit more challenging and of a higher order, and that they would prefer the routine MTF for assessment.