Towards a rational approach to student evaluation by examinations

The major functions of examinations are noted and a scheme of multiple choice testing is outlined which distinguishes between the certification function and the grading function of examinations. This scheme has been in operation since January 1976 in the Department of Anatomy, University of Cape Town, and preliminary results are presented which show: (i) greatly enhanced reliability (ii) unimpaired validity when the multiple choice procedures described were used.