What is a major difficulty encountered in the construction of multiple-choice test items?

The challenge of inventing distractors that will be attractive to learners lacking knowledge or understanding is a significant difficulty in constructing multiple-choice test items. Good distractors are essential because they should not be easily dismissable by a knowledgeable student, and they need to reflect common misconceptions or errors in understanding that less knowledgeable learners might have. This ensures that the test accurately assesses all students' understanding and not just their ability to recognize the correct answer.

Effective distractors should appeal specifically to those who may not grasp the material fully, as these options can reveal the extent to which students are engaging with the subject matter. If the distractors are too obvious or unrelated to the content, they won't serve their purpose of distinguishing between varying levels of student knowledge. Therefore, creating well-designed distractors adds complexity to the item development process and is crucial for the overall effectiveness of the assessment.