2 Words Used DIFFERENTLY in German 

Dear Dana, I'm happy to see a new video from you. It's been a while... I've never heard the term "single choice question" before, neither in English nor in German. And I understood "multiple choice question" always as a question with a number of prerequisite answers to choose one or all correct answers from in contrast to an "open question" where you have to find and formulate the answer yourself. I'm looking forward to more videos ... CU twinmama

That's weird. I taught at a German university for three years. In English. I've never heard of "single choice questions." We had open questions vs multiple choice.

I'm native German and never heard of single choice question before. Actually the term multiple choice question gained popularity when I was almost about to end school. Before that we just used german words to describe it like "Ankreuz-Frage" (marking question, a gestion which you have to mark your answer). Multiple choice is (or was in my school time) a rare kind and we mostly had just to answer with our own words. So multiple choice questions for me are the opposite of thoose questions which you answer by writing a text by yourself and therefor also multiple choice questions means one or more correct answers to me.

Hi Dana, I'm from Germany and I've never heard of single choice questions before. To me, "multiple choice question" means just what you said: A question with multiple choices to choose from, and usually only one of them is correct, unless stated otherwise.

Hi Dana, as a native German, I've never heard of the term 'single choice questions'. To me, all exams with questions to tick the correct answer(s) are 'multiple choice questions'. Mostly, there is a specification for the whole test like 'there might be one to all answers correct' or ' there only exists one correct answer'.

As a German I also have never heard of single-choice-questions and would have defined multiple-choice the same way as you.

Single choice sounds for me more like the typical german trick of creating new words from known vocabulary and in the end it is hoped everybody understands the same thing from this term. It is quite useful in the german language, where combinations of pre- and postfixes are create quickly words not existing, but in english this is very tricky.

es ist einfach nur schön, dich wiederzusehen! ☺️

I'm from Austria and never heard of a single choice question. My understandig is that a multiple choice question can have one or more correct answers, but a single choice question is more like an expected yes/no-answer. "Do you like broccoli?" One choice, love it or hate it. 🤪

A "single choice question" (SCQ) is simply any question, that has _(apparently)_ only one correct answer to it. But that answer is NOT predefined. Having said that: I personally never heard the term "single choice question" being used anywhere. Because - again: it's just a "normal" question. And for that reason, nobody would call it a "SCQ". I'm assuming, it's probably a term that someone _(the writer of the article, that your husband read?)_ made up to have a _(similary worded)_ counterpart to the term "multiple choice question" (= a question with several predefined answers (of which one or more can be true)).

Your confusion was too funny. But, as a German, I have never heard the term "single choice question". Usually it's stated when there is more than one possible answer. On the internet it's even easier (and universal). Fore only one choice you use "radio buttons" and for multiple choice questions you use checkmark boxes.

I'm an American and was an elementary teacher for 20 years, and I've used multiple choice question the same ways you have. I have not heard of a single choice question. 🙅‍♀

Hey Dana, schön, mal wieder von dir zu hören! Lustig ist, dass ich gestern Abend meine Kanalliste durchgesehen habe. Und bei Dana dachte wann kommt von mal wieder etwas von ihr? Wie geht es ihr wohl? Ich hoffe es geht dir und deinem Mann gut! Ist ja schon eine Weile her? Aber sehr schön, dich wieder hier zu hören! Jetzt hoffe ich nur, dass auch die Kaninchen bald mal wieder aus ihrem Bau kommen! Liebe Grüße aus Hamburg bin❤😂

As someone that works in the E-Learning field: Most tools/programms on the market that are used to make courses or quizzes have Single Choice Questions and Multiple Choice Questions as a default choice to build. We use the tools in english and not german and it is still called that. It also does not depend on where the company is from. In the Learning field "Single Choice Question" is a widely used term.

Hi, love the hair. So I am wondering if this is a case of computer/software programming language/thought process is leaking both into English and German. I too would have thought multiple choice meant pick one of the following before I started ‘programming’ something a few weeks ago. When programming I could chose different types of question (ie, yes/no, text/number…) and two of the types of questions was single choice or multiple choice. In programming they like to keep similar types of thing with a similar naming conventions so choice meant that choice meant that the answer is already there. Then the programmer would have to decide if they would want the user to select one answer (single) or multiple answers (multiple). Not sure if my ‘theory’ is correct (or understandable) but maybe?

i have never heard of single choice questions before, neither in german nor in english, my guess is that it is a technically correct term that no one really uses

Never heard that expression, but it makes perfect sense if you substitute "choice" with "answer".

Multiple Choice Question imply, that you have choose between multiple choices (either only a single one is valid or multiple ones from the selection) A Single choice would be just a single possible point to choose from. it might have been a weird choice to name a question where you don't choose options, but have to write down your answer.

In Computer-Programming-Languages there is specific distinction between these two: If you have "a single Choice" you would progam a so called group of radio buttons. As soon as you click on an other button (when one was already selected) the original selection get cancelled and the new selection is marked. (Graphic representation a white circle with a solid black dot in the middle if selected) If you have "multiple Choice(s)" you would program a so called group of check boxes, where you can check and uncheck any combination of options (Graphic representation a square with a X if selected)

Well, Dana, I'm glad to see you uploading videos here, again. You've been quiet on this channel for _ages._ I originally subbed to this channel, hoping to hear _German._ I'm actually not familiar with single-choice questions, but I would say that multiple-choice questions are questions with only _one_ answer. For example, I would point to a question I once placed on a local, dial-up BBS (that's how old I am). In your opinion, what's best for washing down potato salad? A) milk B) apple juice C) orange juice D) lemon-lime soda E) root beer F) cola G) add your own answer It was a fairly innocent question from a fairly innocent time in my life. I hadn't yet graduated from high school. But note the choice of words in the question. Not "what's _suitable_ for washing down potato salad," but "what's _best_ for" it. I came back to check on it, later, and a few people had chosen each of the available options, but someone had added the option, "more potato salad." Someone else had added, "potato salad's nasty." Kids. 🤷

I, as a native German, had first heard of Single Choice questions at university, until then I had also not differentiated between the two types. But I also talked about it with friends who studied at other universities and they all have slightly different ideas what the word means, if any. I would explain the name single vs multiple choice like this: It’s about the number of questions you have to ask yourself. In a single choice question the question is “WHICH ONE is correct?” while you need to ask yourself several questions when answering a multiple choice question, like “Is A correct? Is B correct? Is C correct? Etc.” (That’s why multiple choice questions suck. And there are so many different ways to grade them. Also, sometimes a question can be called multiple choice but there is still only one correct answer listed, that’s tricky.)

In Germany, multiple choice questions do not need to have the "choose all that apply" going with them, so you never now how many options are correct unless you know the answer. German here, but never heard of a "single choice question". The latter seems particularly weird to me.

No, multiple choice for me (German native but English teacher) means: there are several options given from which to choose the one or more correct answer(s). I have never heard or used the term single choice question. If it’s not multiple choice, you have to write the answer yourself. Also, great to see you, hope you won’t vanish again.

Hi Donna, long time, no see, but glad you are back! Ok, I was born and raised in Germany and I still live there and until now I never heard the term 'single choice question'. Actually for me there were Multiple choice questions (the ones with the checkboxes) and free text questions (where you just answer in free text) an that's it. I was actually equally confused as you were when I heard that term. I also should note that I usually encounter that sort of questions in certification exams and they are usually in English so I am probably used to the English terms anyway.

I think there are several aspects to multiple choice questions vs. single choice questions. For multiple choice questions, you are able to select one or more correct answers, while for single choice questions, if you select more than one answers you will fail. Thats the so called "logical" attempt. Technically speaking (like in IT programming) there is another approach. If you create a multiple choice question, you will do it using check boxes where the audience will be able to select several answers. For a single choice question instead, you will use radio buttons - thus limiting the audience to only be able to select one of the possible answers.

So it actually is not a matter of pseudo-anglicism but a missunderstanding of an English word on your behalf. You explained that Germans and US-Americans use it the same way (or rather that both are suposed to use it the same way). The same applies for Germans: Multiplechoice means to have a question which allows and might even expect multiple answers (which generally makes it harder). But in common conversations we would call every question with more than one presented answer "Multplechoice". It is just a simplification. Additionaly I am sure most Germans (and also native English speakers) don't know the excact meaning of the word. How do we naturally learn words? We see something and someone calls it XYZ. Now our brain compares it to other things we already know and memorizes it based on what seperates it from the other named things it already knows. As long as there is no reason to differentiate it more, you will allways call everything that fits your self found criteria by this new word. You had your first quizz with multiple answers proposed and the headline calls it multiple choice. Well you have for the first time a question where you have multiple options to choose from, so that has to be that new "multiple choice" thing. All your following experiences with "multiple choice" have multiple options to choose from, so that checks out. You only have to question that meaning when a question with multiple options is not called a multiple choice, which happened when you saw the term "single choice". Only now there is a need for your brain to differentiate a bit more.

When I came to Germany (in 1976) I encountered several vegetables I had never heard of before. As well as kohlrabi and white asparagus, Mangold, Schwarzwurzel, Feldsalat, Chinakohl, Spitzkohl are the first ones that spring to mind. I also missed a few favourites: Swede, turnips. Runner beans, parsnips and green asparagus. They have since become available here in Germany. You are definitely overthinking the "multiple choice" thing. Just turn it around and call it "Question with a choice of multiple correct answers" and "question with a single correct answer choice". Multiple choice questions were unknown for most of my time at school. Towards the end they were being introduced and it was explained to us in great detail how to do them. We had to bring a 2B pencil and put the cross exactly in the square etc etc.

Hi, native german speaker from northern Germany. Never heard of "single choice question" befor. I only know of "open questions" aka you have to write the entrie answer your self. Or "multiple choice question" where, depending on the question, you either pick one or more of multiple given answers. ("... choose the correct answer from the list below." Or: "... choose all correct answers from the list below")

I have never heard before the word "single choice question", neigher in German, or in English, nor in French. It would make only sense to me if someone would ask me: What is the best youtube channel in the world? Then there would be only one choice: Wanted Adventure. Or, different example: Who looks with a haircut prettier than before, although this isn't possible, cause she was already super pretty? There is only one choice...

As German i never heard of single choice questions... Sounds like a horrible bad translation in a German school because the teacher don't understand English xD

I've heard the terms during University and had both kinds o as tests. This hints again on the difference how german and english are fundamental different. English usually has much fewer words but uses more adjectives do distinguish betweens variations. Meanwhile German often has a complete new word for a variation. Example from my degree: E: Open loop controls vs. closed loop controls G: Steuerung vs. Reglung

Hi, Dana, there you are again! ;-)

Growing up in Australia and similar age to you, I think you’re 100% correct. I’ve never heard of a single choice question - though I might have guess them to be true/false questions. With multiple choice, often d. can be “all of the above” or “none of the above”. Perhaps it’s a generational thing.

I don't heared of "single choice" but it would make more sense. :)

totally love your super soft and silky smooth Floridian accent that's yet to see a 't'. 😅

In my Company. We have many Test's. And I had never heared the word "Singel choise question". Jedoch für mich, als Deutschsprachiger waren die Wörter gleich logisch (so wie "Oldtimer", ich glaube dies war das ERSTE englische Wort, welches ich gelernt habe!😉). Finally, we have in the Bern area, the "Oldtimer Galerie".

Ich kann mich erinnern an meine Zeit als ich 18 Jahre alt war und in die Fahrschule ging um meinen Führerschein zu machen. Als wir( Ich meine der Fahrlehrer und die Fahrschüler) die Fragebögen durchgingen, wurde uns beigebracht das viele Fragen mehrere Antwortmöglichkeiten hatten. Ich bin mittlerweile 68 Jahre alt

My first thought was: "Single-Choice-Question? Why even bother asking when you only give me one answer to choose from?" 🤣 I have never heard of the term "single-choice-question" before in Germany. Whether there is one correct answer or multiple correct answers, it's still a multiple-choice question for me either way.

Klasse Video! :)

Native German here. I only learned the distinction between the two when talking to medical students about their exams. Before, I had only known "multiple choice", but "single choice" pretty much instantly made sense to me.

totally love your highly artistic sketches of Stefan and you. and super easy to single out who's who too 😅

To me, there are always multiple options, but the options you choose to tick (aka "right answers") are either single or multiple. It all comes from the polysemic use of "choice", that includes "options" as a meaning. We often say "you have two choices" when we mean "you have ONE choice between TWO options."

I'm American and have been out of the academic world for ten years or so (I went to school for surveying and then took two tests). This is the first I've heard of a single-choice question, and a multiple-choice question has several possible answers. There are also true/false questions and essay questions.

I am Australian and did all my education in Sydney. Perhaps things have changed since I was at school as I am now middle aged, however there wasn't a separate, specific word for multiple-choice questions with one correct answer. There would usually be context to clarify which questions had a single correct answer and which questions had multiple correct answers (where the student would have to choose all the correct answers to get the mark for that question). But they were still all referred to as "multiple choice questions".

Single choice question -> One Right answer, multiple choice question -> 1 to all can be correct … at least that’s what they are called in university in Austria…

"Multiple choice question" = " A multiple correct choices question" = One question and at least one or more choices can be correct and can be choosen from a list of answers. You but need to choose the right amount of answers to answer the question correctly....not to few and not to many. "Single choice question" = "A single correct choice question" = Only one single choice out of multiple presented answers is correct.

And by the way: great to see you again!

übrigens, für alle, die hier in deutschland den führerschein machen, ist das prinzip single und multiple choice total bekannt, wenn auch nicht mit diesen begriffen, sonden eben nur der form nach: im theorie-unterricht muss man regelmäßig fragebögen ausfüllen, früher auf papier, heute eher digital, zum teil auch online. die meisten der fragen basieren darauf, dass du eine frage entweder nur mit einer korreten antwort oder mit mehreren richtigen antworten lösen kannst, also genau, das, was du beschrieben hast. die wenigsten außerhalb des bildungssektors werden dir die beiden fachbegriffe nennen können... nett wird es dann, wenn noch geschlossene, halboffene und offene fragen dazu kommen... ;-)

Yes I've heard of this, as single choice question is one where there is only one correct answer. A multiple-choice question it is one where you Mark all that apply, or at least that's how it's been presented to me.

Hooray Dana's back! 😍 I can barely hold a decent conversation in German, so I don't know much linguistic terms. (Ich kommuniziere seit etwa einem halben Jahr aktiv auf Deutsch. Davor habe ich 10 Monate lang gelernt es. 😊) However I can answer you about how we use it in my native tongue. There are three groups of questions in Hungarian: 1. "Additional questions" - in this case one can use the relevant answers relatively freely (e.g.: What was discussed in class last week? or For how long are they open?) 2. Decidable questions - this is basically the "yes-no" questions in English. 3. Choosing questions (this would be the Hungarian equivalent of the "multiple choice questions") - when there are multiple answers to choose from, but as an alternative you can choose more answers than one. (e.g.: "You want mustard, ketchup or mayo with your fries?")

It’s probably just a single-choice-multiple-options question versus a multiple-choice-multiple-options question, shortened to single choice and multiple choice questions.

I've heard/read multiple choice questions in German speaking countries with both meanings. most of the times it is used like in the US, mostly to distinguish them from "open questions". I've read "single choice questions" just to distinguish them from "all that apply", for instance in a test with both kind of questions

Instead of using the word, “choice” substitute “answer”. (zB: single “answer” question. Multiple “answer” question.) Does that help?

Yes, I have known and eatend kohlrabi before you showed it. Then again, I am Dutch ;) I am not a lover of asparagus at all, white nor green.

Multiple Choice Questions = Multiple Answers are correct Single Choice Questions = Only one Answer is correct

Dana. We lived the same Englich learing syetem. You have just made me question everything. Thank you!!!!!

Hey you :) I'm Swiss and I definitely know both terms. A multiple choice question has multiple answers, a single choice question has a single answer. :)

Lol, even a yes/no-question has two choices🤣 BTW: Windows boolean variables can assume the values 0, 1, -1, true, false and FILE NOT FOUND🤔 Und Jaaaa! Lüften! Fenster auf Kipp😇❤️

Dana is back? ❤

Well, considering the sat test debacle a number of years ago, when none of the given answeers were correct... I don't trust the US school system to get it right. My opinion would be single choice: you make one choice. Multiple choice: You mark the correct answers. I have never seen a multiple choice question outside market research. In school, we were always required to figure out the correct answer, and in case of math-related questions were always required to show how we reached that answer. So even a correct answer could be given 0 points if we reached the answer in a way that showed that we didn't understand the subject.

What you've expirienced is a common phenomenom: A word that is used differently in techical language than in every day language. An example in German would be "Lampe" in every day language a lightbulb is a "Glühbirne" and the device you screw it in is a "Lampe" in technical language a lightbulb is a "(Glüh)lampe" and the device you screw it in is a "Leuchte"

IMHO: there are single-answer questions (one single selection) and there are multiple-answer questions ("all that apply") - and both are multiple choice (survey) questions. A single choice question, as you pointed out, doesn't make any sense. And this is the same in German! To use this is "Verwirrtheit des Redakteurs" (confusion of the editor). - BTW: "Verwirrtheit" is a nice German word, isn't it? 😉

Holy crap, you're still alive? btt: I think, in your mind you have to add "correct" So, that would mean "Single correct choice question" or "Multiple correct choices question" I'm a Brit who grew up in Germany and from memory/feeling the default is of course 1 correct answer. 4+2=6 - only 1 correct answer. If the question differs from this default then it would state "Mehrfachlösungen möglich" for example. I don't remember ever hearing the term Single choice question, neither in (british) english or german.

I guess in single choice questions, just one answer is correct, and in multiple choice questions, all answers can be correct? SCQ could then be seen as a specific case of MCQ. Although I've not seen the specification "single choice question" in a german questionaire, exam or test - it would be well fitting I think! However, *what* I've seen are circles ("radio buttons") when it explicitly meant single choice, and squares ("check boxes") to indicate multi choice. (I'm likely biased here, thinking of GUI Layouts^). No idea if that style could resemble some kind of international standard?

Never heard of "single choice" questions, but the difference with "(only) One answer applies" (who wants to be a millonaire) vs. "there might be several right answers to this question" (driving test questions) makes sense - and then there is an "open question" where you have to write down the answer instead of just ticking boxes... One of my teachers used to give "multiple choice" questions with the last box always being "katz" = keine Antwort trifft zu (none of the answeres - given above - applies) - this saved my grades, because I could use "katz" a lot of times and then argue WHY it was correct - just a bunch of numbers without explanation what they stand for? (money, weight, size, volume, temperature) "katz"! There is this German saying "Es war alles für die Katz" (it was useless / the effords were in vain) Why did we bother?

Thank you very much for another difficult questioning which is hard to answer.🤔 And btw.: You should let your hair grow on again, long Hair suits you much, much better.😃

Programmers/Coders call the field for a "single choice" as "Radio Button". They call "mutible choise" as "Checkbox". In German coding books the terms are normaly not translated. A few call the "Radio buttons" as "exclusive checkbox".

I had teachers in both high school and university who more accurately referred to them as "multiple guess tests". LOL Maybe instead of thinking of these as single/multiple choice, thinking of them as single- or multiple-correct-answer questions. It's never been about choice, the point is about which response is correct.

I grew up in the northeast USA and my father grew Kohlrabi in his garden, so I'm certainly aware of it - it's delicious in a nice creamy soup! I have German ancestry (great-grandparents) though, maybe that's why 🤷

I (native German) actually heard the term "multiple choice" vs. "single choice" quite often ... IIRC especially in university, where lots of exams contained at least a few questions with multiple or single choices to tick

For me, a Multiple Choice Question is a Question, in Which more then one Option could be choosen And a Single Choice Question is, in which only one option applies. I have these questions never in my Regular school, but later, when I go to Driving School, they where all around. Plus some Questions, in which you have to write a specific number or term in (For example: How fast can you drive on a street outside urban areas, when no sign tells otherwise? There you have to write 100).

Never heard this before in Germany. It makes sense to me though... kind off. It can get confusing: MC questions with aa) multiple correct answers, ab) one or more correct answers and then ba) you've got to pick ALL correct answers or bb) you get points for all correct choices. With this fairly wide range of meanings, I don't know if these distinctive terms are helpful in any way.

In teacher college training college in one course, the difference between multiple choice question and single choice questions were taught. I've never heard it before or ever since. BTW, it's like you've expected. SCQ you can only choose one answer; MCQ you can choose multiple answers.

I only knew the term "multiple choice questions" for both types of question. But always puzzled me, because when I first heard the term I assumed it only means the type where you actually have multiple choices (making make make then one mark). But then I realized it is used for both. It makes much more sense to use "single choice question"for the other type, but I have never heard it before. (I'm from Germany by the way.)

Multiple Choice means to me that you get a question and multiple answers, of which you have to choose the correct one. No idea, what Single Choice is supposed to mean. So, as a German, I understand exactly the same as you. I think what is confusing is the fact that MC questions can have “Einfachauswahl” and “Mehrfachauswahl”, which are incorrectly translated as “single choice” and “multiple choice”. Whereas the latter is “more than one answer might be applicable”.

I know "Multiple Choice Question", but never heard about Single Choice Questions. I guess it was sort of recently coined by some experts who made a point of being exact.

Your original explanation exactly is all I've ever heard. I've never heard anything referred to as a single-choice question. Oh, I'm an American, too, older than you.

As a Dutchie, I am just as confused as you are: NEVER heard of single choice questions and multiple choice questions are for me "Choose the correct one"...

I'm German and I never ever heard of single choice questions. For me multiple choice questions are exactly as you explained them. Perhaps it was a April's fool prank? I just can't wrap my head around such a nonsense. 😢

I had never heard of "single choice" questions, before today, either. That being said, however, I did wonder if, perhaps, they would be the "choose the one correct answer from this list..." type of multiple choice.

Never heard of "single choice" questions in English, but as you explained it, I can see how the new definitions of both single and multiple choice questions now make sense. Also, great to see you on RU-vid again! :)

Usually they are marked somehow, single choice questions > O and multiple choice questions with a □

Forgive me the profanity here, but there’s no better word to describe the state that I am in after watching your video than „completely mindfucked“. However: I came to the same conclusion as you did: A single choice question most likely is one where you are given multiple answers, but only one of them is right and therefore a multiple choice question is one where you’re also given multiple answers, but more than one can be correct. I have never heard of a „single choice question“ EVER. It’s wonderful to have you back Dana.

Living in Germany, I‘ve never heard the phrase „choose all that apply“. I think I‘ve heard or read „more than 1 answer possible“.

Actually I never heard single or multiple choice question. It was always referred to single or multiple choice test. And then I think the topic is clear. By the way I'm German.

When I first saw this I thought "Wow, a Dana video... it's been almost a year." Now my head hurts...

(I am neither American, nor German). In the context of American pop-culture media osmosis, I'd say multiple choice question is a question on a test where you get several options for answers and you have to select the correct one. However, in the context of multiple choice question vs. single choice question, it's different. It's still a question on a test with several options for answers, but multiple choice implies the number of correct answers is not always one, can be two, more, even all of them. However, there should still be at least one correct answer listed, to distinguish a question with zero-correct answers from question-skipped-without-answering. A single choice question would be one where it's known beforehand that only one answer is correct (and I heard in the case of four options the correct one is most probably C). A question with fill-in-your-answer is just a question. Now onto the rest of video...

arrived at the 6:50 mark where I'm on the verge of jumping right into the video, lol. also briefly browsed through the other comments in here. y'all seem to be confusing choice with option. include this word, and everything makes a “dung pile“ (

There are more words being used differently in an other language. For example the word "Conducteur" is in Dutch language the train guard. Exactly the same word in the French language is the train driver. A train guard in the French language is a controleur.

For me, as a German, a Multiple Choice Question was always a question with multiple answer options where multiple right choices exists. I had never question that easy, who were limited to only 1 answer of 3 or 4 or 5 options is correct. In my German brain who is still quiet on the words, the difference of a single choice question and a multiple choice question is exact if a single or multiple given answer option is correct. 🤷‍♂️

So Stefan's use is correct, some Germans like to be more exact or to the point is describing things ( which makes things more complicated for the English speaker) . From that perspective single choice and multiple choice are correct. There is a list of multiple answers. Either there is only one correct answer(single choice) . therefore choose one answer from the list (also called choices), OR there is more than one correct answer in the list of choices, therefore, choose ALL that apply ( multiple choice) . Multiple choices would be more accurate The default in multiple choice question is that there is only one correct answers (single choice ), unless otherwise specified as in your verb-age "(choose all the apply) So the term single choice boils down to there is only on correct choice form the list, NOT a list of one choice only as in your example TRANSLATION ; Single choice correct from the list, or multiple choices would be correct from the list

As a german ive never heard of "single choice question". multiple choice was exactly the same for me as you explained it. if there were multiple possible correct answers it was mentioned in the question itself. 13 years of school, 4 1/2 years of university and 2 1/2 of an apprenticeship later ive still never heard anyone say "single choice". single choice would also make no sense at all aslong as u have atleast 2 answers to choose from. - is this maybe some kind of Hauptschul-thing?

In french QCM is question multiple choix. Like English.

the terms "single" or "multiple" choice questions are both wrong, in German and in English. lol just to follow this logic what would one call a question that offers multiple answers but turns out that only one answer is correct ??? ??? ???

I would say, that "single choice" should rather be called "single solution" or "single selection". In my opinion, the "choice" part of the description declares, how many options you can choose from, not how many options you have to choose. I understand where they are coming from, but it simply isn't the widely known meaning of the term.

yeah, I've to kinda defend the German interpretation here, lovely Dana. reason is: it says _choice_ not _option._ meaning, the example you gave isn't exactly congruent with your wording as you showed us a "single option test."

I'm German and (by now) know both terms, though during my own time at school no one used them but 'Ankreuzaufgabe' (as some other people mentioned before); there was a graphical distinction though, for the questions with multiple correct answers would have a square at the beginning of each option whereas those questions with only one correct answer would have a circle instead. Also like that, there wasn't any hint in the instruction how many answers were correct bc it was obvious due to the squares and circles. Entering university and starting my studies to become a teacher myself, I learned both terms - and many others in order to have a large variety of question types =D

During my schooltime we had "make a cross"- tests sometimes. They were very simple, because you had to choose from suggestet answers and didn't need to think about it by yourself and maybe you get the test simply by guessing. So then when we entered 9th or 10th grade teachers came up with diabolic new test-sheets : multiple choice tests. You didn't know if there is one right answer or two or three or even all. If you just make the wrong decision in one answer, you lost the Point for the whole question. Eg if a plus b is right and c plus d is wrong, but you make your cross also at c, then the question gives you zero points. So this really fucked us off, because you never knew how many correct answers are requirred and even if you knew most correct answers, it doesn't mean you gonna get a good grade. Just by marking something wrong or missing a single right answer the grade decreased. This was pretty hard an we were all afraid of these tests 😅

I go to Uni in Köln and we have single choice question exams. But then there isn't any indication as to being choose one or right or wrong. Also there are pseudo single choice questions where they give answers a, b, c, d and e and then the possible answers, one of which is correct, are 1) a and c are correct, 2) only b is correct, 3) a, c and d are correct, 4) only d is incorrect, 5) all of them are correct. I had some of those in an exam and really got quite mad at them, because we were told there would be single choice and in the end it was somehow multiple choice, but very complicated🤦🏻‍♀️

"Single reply question" = The answer is given or not given. Mark the answer if given as "true or false" ___OR___ "You have to give the answer or solution with your own words" "Multiple choice/reply question" = one or "more than one" of the given replies are true. Having said that: Being offered "Multiple reply/Multiple choice" answers during my school time rarely occurred. You had to know the "solution path" or the "reply" to a given problem. Describing the "correct solution path" (e.g. writing down all the formulas that you needed in the correct order) often still gave you "points". Even if you made a stupid calculation error later on when filling in the formulas with a specific value. Often for each problem there were 1 to 10 points available depending on the kind of exam, on average about 8 problems per exam, in total about 40-80 points max. So, getting 35-40 "points" would be equivalent to getting an "A-, A, A+" or "Note 1-, Note 1, Note 1+".