What are multiple choice questions that are incorrect called?

The term that encompasses incorrectly presented options in multiple-choice questions is accurately described as distractors and foils. Both terms refer to answer choices that are designed to mislead or divert a test-taker from the correct answer, but they are used in slightly different contexts. Distractors are generally used in the context of assessing the understanding of concepts, while foils can refer specifically to incorrect answers that are strategically placed to challenge the test-taker's knowledge.

The recognition of these terms is vital in constructing effective assessments because well-designed distractors and foils enhance the test's ability to evaluate a student's mastery of the content. By including these incorrect options, educators can better gauge a student's comprehension and differentiate between varying levels of understanding.

In contrast, terms like irrelevancies indicate answer choices that do not pertain to the question being asked, which is not the same as implying that they were crafted to test knowledge. Therefore, 'both distractors and foils' is the most precise answer.