Valikainetest

Valikainetest is a term used in Finnish-language educational literature to describe a type of examination or assessment that relies on selecting correct options from a set of alternatives. The word is formed from valinta (choice, selection) and testi (test). In practice, valikainetests are typically implemented as multiple-choice or multi-select items, where learners must identify one or more correct options from provided distractors. They are common in schools and universities, and increasingly delivered through online learning platforms, enabling automated scoring and immediate feedback.

Item design often includes a stem that presents a question or problem, followed by a list of answer choices. Some designs require a single correct option; others allow several correct choices. Scoring may use all-or-nothing scoring, partial credit for partially correct selections, or penalties for guessing in some systems. Good practice emphasizes clear stems, plausible distractors, and alignment with learning objectives.

Valikainetest offers strengths such as efficiency, scalability, and objective comparability across large cohorts. Limitations include potential to encourage guessing, reliance on recognition over production, and challenges in assessing higher-order skills. To mitigate these issues, designers combine valikainetests with open-ended tasks or problem-solving questions and ensure accessibility for diverse learners.

Related concepts include standard multiple-choice testing, knowledge-based assessments, and formative online quizzes.