Supply Items

Supply items are a name given to certain types of assessment questions. Supply items are named this way because students are asked to supply the answer to a question, rather than selecting or choosing an answer to a question. Sometimes assessments contain supply item questions that have one correct answer. An example of this type of supply item is a fill-in-the-blank question. Sometimes assessments contain supply item questions that ask students to construct a more detailed and original response. These types of supply items are referred to as constructed-response items. Examples of constructed-response items include short answer or essay questions. When supply item assessment questions ask students to construct and supply an answer, the result could be in the form of a performance. These types of items are further categorized as performance-based assessments.

On most tests, the assessment items can be categorized as either objective or subjective. Each type of item serves a purpose. Most subjective assessment items are supply items, and some objective assessment items are supply items. The term objective describes test items that are more factual and have short, unambiguous, right or wrong answers. Examples include true–false, matching, multiple-choice, and completion questions. Some objective test items ask students to choose the correct response to a question. This often takes the form of a multiple-choice question, where students select the correct response from a list of possible choices. Other objective test items are supply items that ask students to supply a word or phrase to answer a question. A specific example is a fill-in-the-blank question.

The term subjective describes test items that are not based on one right or wrong answer. Subjective items have students create their own original written response to a question. Because students supply their own response, subjective questions are categorized as supply items. There is usually more than one correct way to answer these questions. In fact, often there are usually several possible correct answers, and students can earn full or partial credit. There is more flexibility in scoring answers to these types of questions. Examples of subjective assessment items include short answer essays, extended response essays, and performance-based items.

Performance-based assessment items ask students to supply a response, so these types of items are also categorized as supply items. Performance-based items measure students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills and then demonstrate this ability as a performance of some kind. Examples of performance-based assessments include giving an oral presentation or speech or even participating in a debate. Some performance-based assessments ask students to produce or construct a product. Regardless of the format, the intent of performance-based assessments is for students to provide evidence of their knowledge and demonstrate application of skills. Options for products for performance-based assessments vary greatly.

See also Alternate Assessments; Authentic Assessment; Constructed-Response Items; Fill-in-the-Blank Items; Matching Items; Objectivity; Performance-Based Assessment; Tests