Constructed Response Items

This section discusses different item formats that may be used in developing brief constructed response items.   It provides examples of each item format, describes the benefits and drawbacks of each, and provides guidelines to follow when constructing items.

Constructed response items are those that require students to create their own written response.   There are two primary types of constructed response items:  brief constructed responses that require about 5-7 minutes of student response time; and extended constructed responses that require about 25-30 minutes of student response time.

Extended constructed response items are discussed as examples of performance-based and long-term tasks.

Brief Constructed Response Item Formats  

Fill in the blank

Short answer

Label a diagram

Visual representation

Show your work

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