Rechtsfragen bei der Einführung von Multiple-Choice-Prüfungen (Antwort-Wahl-Verfahren)

In German universities multiple-choice-examinations are today nearly exclusively used for students of medicine or pharmacy. The Bologna reform, introducing Bachelor and Master-programs, has also increased the number of examinations in comparison to former times. Thus the interest in multiple-choice-testing will probably grow. This contribution discusses the advantages and disadvantages this kind of examination implies (III.). It then concentrates on the legal requirements, once a decision to use multiplechoice has been taken (IV.). These are rather strict. Interpreting Art. 12 Basic Law, the Federal Constitutional Court has demanded a legal rule for every restriction of access to a profession. The possibility of multiple-choice-testing must therefore be explicitly stated in the regulations for the examination. Furthermore these regulations have to foresee a rule, covering the situation that a majority of the students fail to reach the required percentage of correct answers. Finally administrative jurisdiction demands a procedure, which guarantees the elimination of ambiguous, wrong or incomplete answering possibilities before the results of the exam are worked out.