Biology Teachers’ Perception of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in the G.C.E Advanced Level Biology and Students’ Academic Performance in the South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

The study “Biology Teachers’ Perception of MCQs in the GCE Advanced Level Biology and Students’ Academic Performance in the South West Region” was carried out to examine the views of Advanced Level Biology teachers on the use of MCQs, an innovation in the GCE Examination since June, 2009. The study made use of the survey design. The research questions were as follows: (1) To what extent do Biology teachers master the construction of MCQs? (2) To what extent does the use of MCQs provide Biology teachers with a better means for assessing student learning than the use of short-answer structural questions? (3) How is the use of MCQs in Advanced Level Biology helpful in the attainment of instructional objectives? (4) What constraints do Biology teachers experience in constructing MCQs? (5) To what extent do Biology teachers feel adequately involved in the making of decisions with respect to the use of MCQs? The instrument used to collect the data was the questionnaire made up of 37 close-ended questions. A sample of 183 Advanced Level Biology teachers in the Fako, Manyu and Meme Divisions of the South West Region took part in the study. Out of the 183 copies of the questionnaire administered, 183 were returned, giving a percentage returned of 100%. Data were analyzed descriptively using simple and relative frequencies and percentages and also inferentially using the chi square. The results showed that Biology teachers have a positive perception of the use of MCQs. They have a mastery of the construction of MCQs, MCQs is better than short answer structural questions, MCQs at the Advanced level Biology is helpful in the attainment of instructional objectives, they do not experience constraints in constructing MCQs, and Biology Teachers partake in decision-making on matters that concern MCQs. This positive perception influences the students’ academic performance positively as seen in the steady rise of Advanced Level GCE Biology results from 2009 which is the year of inception of MCQs in the GCE Board examination to 2016. The sudden drop in the year 2017 is due to the unrest atmosphere witnessed in the English speaking Region of Cameroon as gotten from some purposively selected schools in the South West Region as shown in the appendix.