Which assessment method is commonly used in the reading comprehension section?

The use of multiple choice questions based on the text is a prevalent assessment method in the reading comprehension section because it effectively evaluates a student’s understanding and retention of the material. This format allows educators to gauge how well students can identify key ideas, interpret meanings, and analyze details presented in the text.

Multiple choice questions typically provide a clear structure, allowing students to select the best answer from several options. This not only tests comprehension but can also reveal a student's ability to discern between similar ideas or themes, which is crucial for developing critical reading skills. Additionally, the objective nature of multiple choice assessments can streamline grading and provide a quantifiable measure of student performance, making it easier to identify areas where further instruction may be needed.

In contrast, the other methods, while valuable in their own right, do not align as closely with standard reading comprehension assessments. Oral responses and discussions may provide qualitative insights but can be subjective and vary widely among students. Group presentations assess collaboration and broader comprehension but often focus more on presentation skills than individual reading comprehension. Writing summaries encourages synthesis and can demonstrate understanding but does not always assess specific details and nuances found within the text as clearly as multiple choice questions do.