Much of our ability to use the computer comes from feel rather than by rote.

Teachers of programming may ask students to write a program, but that's more of a project than a test. A test can cover little more than a simple routine, rather than a full test.

However, your institution may require a test. If so, give an open ended test, or ask them to accomplish a small task.

Don't give multiple choice tests. There are too many ways to accomplish the same result and a student should not have to respond in your limited or restricted way.

Let's explain this principle with a relatively simple example. You ask how to underline a word. Now, it's easy to underline a word, but there are many different ways to accomplish the job. Isn't that the case with most issues in the computer?

Your selected multiple choice answers offer one way to underline a word and three ways that would not work. But a student may be able to successfully underline a word using another method. There is no justification for implying that only the selected way is correct.

You might ask the students to select one of two ways to underline a word and that either B or C would be correct. That might be more fair, but it doesn't help the student who only knows a third option. Again, the student does know a successful way to underline a word, even if the student didn't select B or C.

If this situation exists with such a simple project as underlining a word, then imagine how many other options or possibilities there might for complex things.

Clearly, computer tests should not use multiple choice questions, but rather open ended questions or projects.

An open ended question admittedly takes more time to mark, and the student may receive partial credit for a response. However, it resolves the problems that arise in a multiple choice test.

There is also a partial solution to the problem of marking an open-ended test. Give a shorter test!