Low order questioning vs high order questioning refers to what?

• A. Low order questions involve recall and basic understanding; high order questions require higher abstract thinking.
• B. Low order questions are harder; high order questions are easier.
• C. Low order questions are about essays; high order questions are multiple choice.
• D. Low order questions only appear in the early grades.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the cognitive demand a question places on a student. Low-order questions target recall and basic understanding, while high-order questions require applying concepts to new situations, analyzing relationships, evaluating evidence, or creating solutions—higher-level, more abstract thinking. This is why the best description is that low-order questions involve recall and basic understanding, and high-order questions require higher abstract thinking. The other options mix up factors like difficulty, format, or grade level, which aren’t what defines whether a question is low or high order.