If you’ve been teaching in recent years, you and your students have probably encountered TEI questions. TEI questions can be scary. With a multiple-choice question, students have a 25% chance of at least guessing correctly. With TEI questions, guessing is much harder.
What’s more, TEI questions require students not only to know the correct answer but also to know how to interact with technology. That is why it is important to practice TEI questions throughout the school year. You don’t want students to miss a question on state testing simply because they don’t know how to manipulate the objects on the computer.
In this post, we’ll break down what TEI questions are, the different types you might see, and practical classroom strategies to help students master them.
What are TEI Questions?
TEI stands for Technology-Enhanced Item. These questions go beyond traditional multiple-choice formats by requiring students to interact with digital tools— such as dragging and dropping, highlighting text, or selecting multiple responses —to demonstrate their understanding.
Unlike standard questions, TEIs are designed to assess deeper comprehension, critical thinking, and application of skills. Students must often analyze information, manipulate content, or synthesize ideas rather than simply recall facts.
While TEIs can seem scary, the deeper application is more applicable to solving real-world problems. After all, most problems cannot be solved with a multiple-choice question.
Types of TEI Questions
Here are common TEI question types and how each works:
Drag-and-Drop
Students move answer choices into the correct location. This could include sorting vocabulary words into categories, placing events in chronological order, or labeling a model or map.
Hot Spot
Students click on a specific area of an image, map, graph, or text. For example, they might identify a part of a diagram or select evidence within a paragraph.
Multiple Select
Instead of choosing one correct answer, students select all that apply.
Inline Choice (Drop-Down)
Students choose the correct answer from a drop-down menu within a sentence or paragraph.
Matching
Students pair related items, such as terms and definitions or causes and effects.
Table Questions
Students fill in a table by selecting appropriate responses for rows and columns.
Highlighting Text
Students highlight words, phrases, or sentences that meet a specific criterion, such as identifying supporting evidence.
Graphing or Plotting
Students plot points or create graphs directly on a digital interface. These question types are usually limited to math and science tests.
Fill-in-the-Blank (Short Constructed Response)
Students type a word, phrase, or number. These question types are commonly used on math tests where students type the numerical response rather than selecting the correct number from a list.
Practice TEI Questions
It is important to find ways to practice TEI items throughout the school year. Especially for elementary students, interacting with these types of test questions is new. They need practice with TEIs to ensure they do not miss a question simply because they are uncertain about how to operate the technology. TEI practice will also give students more exposure to tech skills that are needed in the modern workforce.
Here are a few ways I incorporate TEI practice into my classroom…
Digital Centers
Digital centers are not only a great way for students to practice skills independently, but they are also an easy way to practice TEI questions.
I have created digital math centers for every math SOL. With these digital centers, students practice digital skills such as:
- drag and drop
- matching
- table questions
- making digital graphs
- filling in the blanks with numbers or symbols
I use these centers with every SOL throughout the school year. After students have worked through the activities independently, we discuss the different types of questions. I open the floor for students to share what they found easy and challenging, and we talk through ways to answer the different types of questions.
You can find all of my digital math centers in my store HERE.
Digital Tools
Luckily, we live in a time when free digital tools are readily available at our fingertips. A simple search in Google or ChatGPT can reveal free tools teachers can use to practice TEIs with students.
I’ve listed a few of my favorite digital fraction math tools in this blog post. What are some of your favorite, free digital tools for teachers? Let me know in the comments.
SOL Practice Items
The VDOE always provides sample test items on its website. Often, these test items are pulled from previous SOL tests.
As TEI questions have become more popular, we are seeing more of these samples on the VDOE website. The VDOE’s SOL Practice Items usually give us the best glimpse into the types of questions students may see on the SOL test.
I always recommend checking this page on the VDOE website every few months to see if any new samples have been provided.
Conclusion
TEI questions are more than just a new testing format. They represent a shift toward interactive, skill-based assessment. By understanding the different types and intentionally planning how to practice TEI questions in your classroom, you can help your students feel more confident and prepared for SOL testing.
Looking for more SOL test prep ideas? You can find test prep resources and activities for Virginia teachers HERE.
