Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Create Higher-Level Thinking Test Questions
Background: Bloom’s Taxonomy is a six-part classification system that, in addition to other applications, categorizes questions by the types of knowledge and thought processes they demand from students. It is estimated that 80-90% of the questions we ask our students are from the “knowledge category,” the one that requires the least comprehension and critical thinking. Below are the six categories of Bloom’s Taxonomy, some sample types of question starts that reflect each category, and an example of each type of question.
Category
1--Knowledge
Knowledge is defined as remembering, memorizing, recognizing, recalling identification and information.
Questions
that test for knowledge might begin with:
An
example might be: “What mechanism is
used to start a car?” or “List the steps of cell mitosis.”
Comprehension is defined as
interpreting, translating from one medium to another, describing in one’s own
words, or the organization and selection of facts and ideas.
Questions
that test for comprehension might begin with:
Contrast…
An example might be:
“Using this chart, describe the main points from the text.”
Application is
defined as problem solving, applying information to produce a result, or the
use of facts, rules, and principles in new situations.
Questions that test for application
might begin with:
How is…an example of…
How is…related to…
Why is…significant to…
An example might be:
“Use the rules of advertising to create an effective advertisement for a
new sports drink.”
Analysis is
defined as subdividing something to show how it is put together, finding the
underlying structure of something, identifying motives, or separating of a
whole into its parts.
Questions that test for analysis might
begin with:
What are the parts of…
Outline/diagram…
What evidence exists for…
Category 5—Synthesis
Synthesis is defined as
creating a unique, original product, combination of ideas to form a new whole, or
putting together parts to create a new whole.
Questions
that test for synthesis might start with:
What
would you infer from…
What
ideas can you add to…
How
would you design a new…
What
might happen if you combined…
What
solutions might you suggest for…
An
example might be: “If a child is exhibiting the following symptoms, what
possible diagnosis could you make?”
Evaluation is defined as making value decisions about issues, resolving controversies, development of opinions. It is important to remember that evaluations should be justified with evidence.
Questions
that test for evaluation might begin with:
What
criteria would you use to assess…
What
is the most important…
Place
the following in order of priority…
Defend…
An
example might be: “Of all of the principles of marketing studied so far this
year, which two are the most crucial to a successful marketing campaign?”