Definition
A category of written test item in which the examinee must produce the answer themselves rather than choose from options provided. Common forms include fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay questions.
Plain English
A test question where you have to come up with the answer yourself, instead of picking it from a list.
Context Anchor
Seen when an aviation instructor is building quizzes, written tests, or lesson review questions.
Derivation
From 'supply,' meaning to provide or furnish. The student supplies the answer from their own knowledge, rather than selecting one. The label distinguishes this style from selection-type items like multiple choice.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors building tests for their students need to know which question style fits which learning goal. Supply-type items are good for checking deeper understanding because the student cannot guess from a list.
Intuition Check
Supply-Type does not mean a test about aircraft supplies or equipment. It means the student supplies the answer.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor included several supply-type questions on the quiz so students had to write out their own explanations of weight and balance.
Example Sentence 2
Supply-type questions help instructors evaluate whether a student truly understands a concept rather than simply recognizing the correct answer.