In a written exam, what is the term for the initial part presented to students?

The initial part of a written exam that is presented to students is known as the stem. This component of a question sets the context and outlines the problem or query that the student needs to respond to. The clarity and precision of the stem are crucial, as they directly impact the students' understanding of what is being asked. A well-constructed stem allows students to focus on answering the question correctly, as it provides the necessary information and framework for the item that follows.

The other terms relate to different aspects of the assessment process. For example, distractors are incorrect options in a multiple-choice question designed to challenge students' knowledge; items refer to the individual questions or tasks that make up the exam; and a key indicates the correct answer among the options provided. While these terms are relevant to the structure and function of assessments, the stem specifically identifies the introductory part that presents the question to students.