A cumulative final exam covers the entire course. One approach is to combine all questions from previous course exams, or portions of them. A list of learning objectives for the course can also help generate a cumulative final exam. Each objective can be converted into a question or question series. For instance, the objective "Students will be able to name four or more distinct layers of the atmosphere, and a unique characteristic of each" could lead to a question about layers of the atmosphere and a question series about unique characteristics.
Nate Cornell, Ph.D., a psychology professor whose research emphasis is studying, writes, "Cumulative exams take advantage of the spacing effect: If you have already studied something, studying it again after a delay can produce a huge amount of learning." For example, he says, cumulative final exams force students to study information they learned in the previous months again at the end of the term, taking advantage of the spacing effect to increase learning.
Noncumulative final exams only cover a portion of the course. Instructors often emphasize concepts taught near the end of the course. Another option, which uses the spacing effect, is an exam based on information presented at the beginning or middle of the course. If most students have demonstrated mastery of some objectives but not others, a final exam covering the most elusive objectives is a third option.
Open- and closed-book testing offers additional approaches to both exam formats. Open-book means students may use references such as notes and textbooks during the exam; closed-book means no references. Open-book might be used for lengthy cumulative tests, or when it is not important for students to commit certain information to memory. Closed-book might be used for short noncumulative exams or when memorizing material is necessary. Allowing students to use references on some test sections combines open- and closed-book.
Final exams can be designed with one or several answer options.
Multiple choice questions require students to select the best response to a question from a number of given responses. They are useful when students need only to recognize, not demonstrate, information.
True or false questions, which ask students to determine the accuracy of given information, and matching questions, which ask students to correctly match terms with their definitions, also work well for the same reason.
Essay and short answer questions require students to demonstrate their knowledge in writing, at length or in short, respectively. To test writing skills, ability to develop coherent arguments or gauge mastery of complex concepts, final exams that require written responses are useful.