Which type of exams does not require extensive interpretation by the instructor?

The correct answer is objective tests. These exams consist of questions that have specific, straightforward answers, such as multiple-choice, true/false, or matching questions. Because the answers are definitive and do not require subjective judgment, instructors can easily score these tests without needing to interpret the responses beyond the clear answer key provided.

In contrast, open-ended tests involve questions that allow for a range of answers, requiring instructors to assess student responses based on criteria that may vary from one answer to another. Performance tasks also necessitate interpretation, as they assess students' practical skills and often rely on a subjective evaluation of their execution. Lastly, project-based assessments typically involve creative and complex tasks that can produce varied outcomes, making them more difficult to evaluate uniformly. Therefore, objective tests are the most straightforward and efficient form of assessment for instructors to grade.