Which test questions are designed to assess higher cognitive levels?

Subjective test questions are designed to assess higher cognitive levels because they require students to engage in deeper critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis of information. Unlike objective questions, which often focus on recall of facts and basic comprehension, subjective questions encourage students to articulate their thoughts, defend their reasoning, and demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of the material.

For example, in a subjective format, students may be asked to write essays, respond to open-ended questions, or provide detailed explanations of concepts. This format allows for a variety of acceptable responses, thereby assessing not just recall but also the ability to process and apply knowledge in complex ways. In contrast, true or false, objective, and matching formats tend to limit responses to a specific correct answer, which primarily tests lower-level thinking skills.