Bloom's Taxonomy provides a useful structure in which to categorize test
questions when assessing student learning. The table below describes skills
demonstrated for each level of thinking according to Bloom as well as question
cues that can be used to elicit student responses within that level. The
same content information can be assessed at different levels of cognition.
Here are some examples
of test questions reflecting the six levels of learning according to
Bloom.
Competence
Skills Demonstrated
Knowledge
observation and recall of information
knowledge of dates, events, places
knowledge of major ideas
mastery of subject matter
Question Cues:
list, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine,
tabulate, quote, name, who, when, where, etc.
Comprehension
understanding information
grasp meaning
translate knowledge into new context
interpret facts, compare, contrast
order, group, infer causes
predict consequences
Question Cues:
summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish,
estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend
Application
use information
use methods, concepts, theories in new situations
solve problems using required skills or knowledge
Questions Cues:
apply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, solve, examine,
modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discover
Analysis
seeing patterns
organization of parts
recognition of hidden meanings
identification of components
Question Cues:
analyze, separate, order, explain, connect, classify, arrange, divide,
compare, select, explain, infer
Synthesis
use old ideas to create new ones
generalize from given facts
relate knowledge from several areas
predict, draw conclusions
Question Cues:
combine, integrate, modify, rearrange, substitute, plan,
create, design, invent, compose, formulate, prepare, generalize,
rewrite
Evaluation
compare and discriminate between ideas
assess value of theories, presentations
make choices based on reasoned argument
verify value of evidence
recognize subjectivity
Question Cues :
assess, decide, rank, grade, test, measure, recommend, convince, select,
judge, explain, discriminate, support, conclude, compare, summarize