In what way can multiple-choice items be beneficial compared to supply-type items?

Multiple-choice items offer significant advantages, particularly in their suitability for automated grading systems. When assessments are designed with multiple-choice questions, they can easily be processed by scanning machines or educational software that quickly evaluate answers based on a predefined answer key. This automation saves educators considerable time that would otherwise be spent on manually grading tests, allowing for more efficient assessment and quicker feedback to students.

Additionally, the structured format of multiple-choice questions eliminates ambiguity in responses, making it straightforward to determine whether a student's answer is correct or incorrect. This clarity is one of the key benefits of multiple-choice items, as opposed to supply-type questions, which often require subjective judgment in grading and can lead to inconsistencies.