ELT365 · Day 165 — Multiple-choice traps — why learners guess wrong

Idea — Multiple-choice distractors often use words from the text in wrong combinations. Learners pattern-match on familiar words instead of reading for meaning.

Example — Text: ‘The train was delayed by fog.’ Option C: ‘The train was cancelled due to fog.’ Learners who skimmed often tick C.

Try — Write one multiple-choice item for a text you use. Include one distractor that borrows text vocabulary but alters the meaning.

Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.