When conducting an oral assessment, which type of question should be avoided?

In the context of conducting an oral assessment, it is important to understand the nature of the questions being posed to ensure they effectively gauge the learner's knowledge and understanding. The question that should be avoided is one that is overly broad or vague, which can lead to confusion and a lack of focus in the response.

The option that asks, "What do you do before beginning a flight?" is broad and open-ended. It does not guide the respondent towards a specific topic or detail and can result in answers that lack depth or clarity. A more effective question should direct the learner to a particular concept, process, or piece of information.

In contrast, questions that relate more directly to specific actions, steps, or the rationale behind procedures, such as inquiries about the first step in conducting a preflight, how to check tire pressure, or the importance of preflight inspections, are beneficial. They encourage precise, informed responses and facilitate a better assessment of the learner's knowledge by creating opportunities to demonstrate their understanding of clearly defined topics. This focused approach leads to more productive dialogues and deeper insights into the learner's grasp of the material.