Which type of test item would you typically find in the WEST-E?

The correct answer is multiple choice questions, as this format is commonly used in standardized testing, including the WEST-E. Multiple choice items effectively assess a wide range of knowledge and understanding by providing a question or a prompt along with several possible answers. This allows for efficient scoring and can cover various topics within a subject area.

Unlike essays, which require extensive writing and are subjectively graded, multiple choice questions provide clear right and wrong answers, making them easier to evaluate consistently. They also differ from full-length research papers, which are time-consuming and require extensive analysis and deeper understanding. Diagrams alone, while useful in certain contexts like assessments of visual literacy or interpretation skills, are not comprehensive enough to constitute an entire test item in the WEST-E framework. Therefore, the multiple choice format aligns with the goal of testing broad content knowledge in a structured and accessible manner.