Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Discussion Paper Series in Economics,
Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics

No 4/2024: Innocuous Exam Features? The Impact of Answer Placement on High-Stakes Test Performance and College Admissions

Catalina Franco () and Erika Povea ()
Additional contact information
Catalina Franco: Centre for Applied Research, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: SNF, Centre for Applied Research, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway
Erika Povea: Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: NHH, Department of Economics, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway

Abstract: We exploit randomness in college entrance exams in Colombia to study how the placement of answers impacts multiple-choice test results and access to college. Using administrative data, we find that: first, applicants are 5% less likely to answer correctly when the correct answer is the last in the choice set (option D). And, second, that one SD higher share of correct answers in D in the math section reduces applicants’ overall performance and their preferred major admission rate by 3%. Considering lifelong college access implications, we show how seemingly innocuous exam features disproportionately affect unlucky test takers.

Keywords: Multiple-choice tests; answer placement; performance; admissions

JEL-codes: C93; D83; I21; I23; I24

Language: English

52 pages, April 14, 2024

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