67th Myanmar Medical Conference JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Item Analysis of Single Best Answer Questions in Medical Genetic Module End Test for Medical Year One Students

The Mon La1, Hpone Pyeii2, May Pyone Kyaw3
Published in Volume 67, No. 4, 2025 October – December issue
https://doi.org/10.64455/xmma0012

 

Abstract
Background: The Module End Assessment is an important component of learning and assessment in modular system of our newly implemented outcome-based integrated curriculum, where single best answer (SBA) questions are used as key assessment tool.

 

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the quality of 60 single best answer (SBA) questions from the Genetics Module End Test administered to 353 Medical Year One students (Batch 5/2023). The analysis focused on key parameters including the discrimination index (DI), difficulty index (DFI), distracter efficiency (DE), and their relation to assess the overall effectiveness of test items in student performance.

 

Results: Among 60 items, 18 (30%) had DI < 0.20 and 42 (70%) had DI ≥ 0.20, indicating most items effectively discriminated high and low performers. According to DFI, the proportion of good (DFI 0.30 – 0.70), difficult (DFI > 0.30), easy (DFI > 0.70) items was 27 (45%), 1 (1.67%), and 32 (53.33%) respectively. A strong negative correlation (r = -0.6198, p < 0.00001) was found between DFI and DI. In distractor analysis, 49 items had no non-functional distractors (NFDs). All 11 items with NFDs had DFI > 0.70, and 10 items had DI < 0.20.

 

Conclusion: This study highlights that item analysis is the essential step to improve the quality of SBA used in assessment of medical education.

 

Keywords: single best answer questions, difficulty index, discrimination index, distracter efficiency

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar
  2. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar
  3. Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar

Corresponding author: [email protected]
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7130-1754