<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I’m on the same page as you Mark.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark KELLY<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 17 November 2011 1:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [Year 12 SofDev] A negative question (no exam spoilers)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>Without giving away anything about the SD exam before 5pm, I noticed that one of the MC questions began,"Which of the following is <b>not</b> a feature of a..."<br><br>It is the first time I remember a question using a negative stem. I have a hazy, old memory of someone saying that VCE exam questions should not be written in the negative, nor should they use "all of the above" or "none of the above" options.<br><br>Of course that may be just a symptom of old age, but if we're allowed to write questions with a negative stem, that makes exam writing so much easier! Trying to find 3 reasonable options for a positive questions can be really hard.<br><br>e.g. <br><br>Which of the following <b>is</b> a feature of an elephant?<br>A. Its radial ply tyres<br>B. Its flippers.<br>C. Its ears.<br>D. Its thorax.<br><br>It's far easier to craft questions where only <b>one</b> item has to be a bit dodgy, I reckon.<br><br>--<br><br>Reading the paper now... hmmmm!<br clear=all><br>-- <br>Mark Kelly<br>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area<br>McKinnon Secondary College<br>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia<br>Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578 9253<br><a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: <a href="http://www.edulists.com.au/" target="_blank">IT Applications Edulist</a><br><br>Want a good time? Call 0112358. Ask for Mr Fibonacci.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>