What guideline should be followed when developing matching test items?

When developing matching test items, the guideline that emphasizes avoiding placing groups of prompts on more than one page is important for maintaining clarity and ease of use for the test-taker. Keeping all prompts on a single page helps students avoid confusion and reduces the likelihood of errors that may arise when they have to flip between pages. This format allows for a more straightforward assessment experience, ensuring that students can easily access all the related information needed to complete the matching exercise.

In contrast, including multiple correct answers for each prompt could lead to ambiguity and confusion regarding which answer corresponds to which prompt, complicating the assessment process. Using vague prompts undermines the objective of assessing knowledge accurately, as clarity is essential for understanding what is being measured. Randomizing the order of prompts can be beneficial in some contexts, but it must be done carefully to ensure it does not hinder comprehension or make it unnecessarily complex. Thus, the guideline to keep prompts on one page stands out as the most effective practice when designing matching test items.