FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What typically characterizes convergent questions in education?

1. They require multiple answers

2. They focus on critical analysis

3. They require lower-level thinking skills

4. They encourage group discussion

The correct answer is: They require lower-level thinking skills

Convergent questions are designed to elicit specific, narrow responses, typically from a defined set of possible answers. This type of questioning often focuses on factual recall or the application of straightforward concepts, which generally involves lower-level thinking skills such as remembering or understanding rather than higher-order skills like analyzing or evaluating. These questions are often used in assessments to measure students' comprehension of specific information where the focus is on correctness, rather than the exploration of multiple perspectives or broader critical analysis. While divergent questions encourage a range of answers, creative thinking, and broader discussion, convergent questions streamline responses to assess clear, objective understanding. This distinction highlights the lower cognitive load associated with convergent thinking.