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International Research Journal of MMC (IRJMMC)
Vol. 2 Issue 1 (February, 2021) ISSN 2717-4999 (Online) 2717-4980 (Print)
www.mmchetauda.edu.np 15
Analysis of Difficulty Index, Discrimination Index and Distractor
Efficiency of Multiple Choice Questions of Speech Sounds of English
Lok Raj Sharma
Associate Professor of English
Makawanpur Multiple Campus, Hetauda, Nepal
E-mail:lokraj043@gmail.com
Received: November 12, 2020; Revised & Accepted: January 18, 2021; Published: February 18, 2021
© Copyright: Sharma (2021).
ABSTRACT
The prime purpose of this research article is to analyze 20 multiple choice questions
(MCQs) regarding the consonant and vowel sounds of English having asked to the Bachelor of
Education (B. Ed) first year major English students in their achievement examination conducted
at Makawanpur Multiple Campus, Hetauda, Nepal in 2020. The researcher employed 33%
students from the group of high achievers from the top and 33% students from the group of low
achievers from the bottom by including 18 students from the population of 27 students. Each item
was analyzed for difficulty index (DIF I), discrimination index (DI), and distractor effectiveness
(DE). 3 (15%) questions fell in the range of the difficulty index of (0.20 – 0.39). 14 (70%)
questions fell in the range of the difficulty index of (0.40 – 0.59). 2 (10%) questions fell in the
range of the difficulty index of (0.60 – 0.79). 1 (5%) Question fell in the range of the difficulty
index of (0.80 – 0.89). 2 (10%) questions lay in the discrimination index of (0.20-0.29) and 18
(90%) questions lay in the discrimination index of ≥ 0.40. 5 (25%) questions had one non-
functional distractor, whereas 15 (75%) questions had zero nun-functional distractor. Out of 60
distractors, 5 (8.34%) distractors were non-functional and 55 (91.66%) distractors were
functional. It was found that most of the multiple choice questions were reliable and valid.
Keywords: Difficulty index, discrimination index, distractor effectiveness, item analysis,
multiple choice questions.
INTRODUCTION
Item analysis is a process of collecting, summarizing, and using information from
students’ responses to assess the quality of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Performing an
item analysis is a prominent aspect of maintaining the quality of multiple choice questions asked
to the students. It is based on the responses given by the examinees. The most difficult questions
or the easiest questions need to be discarded or revised. The decision to revise the questions is
based on good difficulty index, discriminatory index and functional distractors.