On multiple choice questions, you are supposed to select the “best” choice among a set of four options.

(1)  Understand Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are incomplete statements that you finish by choosing one of four answers.

StemThe wallsof granite around the lakes in Iowa were formed by:

Options:     

a.       American Indians

b.       three blue men

c.       huge meteors

d.       thick ice

(2)  Apply the True-False Technique to Multiple Choice Items

To use the true-false technique:

• First, create a statement using the stem and each option.
• Then, ask yourself if the statement is true or false.

Because of its lack of lumber, the poor country Syria has many homes made of:

a.            metal

b.            concrete

c.            marble

d.            mud brick

T        F        Because of its lack of lumber, the poor country Syria has many homes made of metal. 

T        F        Because of its lack of lumber, the poor country Syria has many homes made of concrete.

T        F        Because of its lack of lumber, the poor country Syria has many homes made of marble.

T        F        Because of its lack of lumber, the poor country Syria has many homes made of mud brick.

(3)    Stick to the Subject Matter of the Course

When multiple choice questions include options you don’t recognize or seem out-of-place, don’t panic into choosing them.  Strange options called “distracters” are usually not the answer.

Which of the following does not have a moon:

a.            Venus

b.            Cassiopeia

c.            Mars

d.            Perseus

Options b and d are distracters but, if you haven’t studied, you may think that since you don’t know these, they are the right option.

Always try to remember if you heard the teacher use unknown options in class.   If not, they are distracters and can be eliminated.

(4)        Foolish Options are Usually Incorrect

Test writers sometimes include a silly statement as an option.  These should be immediately crossed out.

(5)   The option “All of the Above” is usually correct

When all the reasonable candidates for options will make the statement true, “all of the above” is used as an option.

One way to check the choice “all of the above” is to find at least two correct answers in the options.

 During World War II, the US Military made use of:

a.            Tanks

b.            Planes

c.            Cherokee code talkers

d.            All of the above

Because the two other possibilities are correct, you don’t necessarily need to know that the US Military had Cherokee Indians use their native language to send secret messages to the front lines. 

(6)     Numbers in the middle range are usually correct

When options in a multiple choice question are numbers and you have to guess, eliminate the high and low numbers.  For some reason, test writers include one number below and one above the correct answer.

The Washington Monument stands how many feet high?

a.            281

b.            381

c.            981

d.            481

(7)     Check for Look-Alike Options

Test makers may include two options that are alike except for one word.  One of these is likely the answer to the question, so look at these carefully and choose the one that best answers the question.

The author considers himself an authority on

a.            touring the Middle East

b.            Middle East rug dealers

c.            Middle East rug bargains

d.            behavior patterns of tourists

(8)     Check for Longer Options

In multiple choice questions, the longer option is usually correct because the test maker had to pack a lot of information into the answer to make it correct.

Good luck on your mid-terms and finals!

Need help applying these concepts?  Call 817.421.8780 to learn about Student Success!

(c) 2010, flexiture, monte w.davenport, ph.d.