Multiple choice questions usually include a phrase or stem

followed by three to five options:

Test strategies:

 Read the directions carefully

Know if each question has one or more correct option
Know if you are penalized for guessing
Know how much time is allowed (this governs your strategy)
 Preview the test
Read through the test quickly and answer the easiest questions first
Mark those you think you know in some way that is appropriate
 Read through the test a second time and answer more difficult
questions
You may pick up cues for answers from the first reading, or become
more comfortable in the testing situation
 If time allows, review both questions and answers
It is possible you mis-read questions the first time

Answering options
Improve your odds, think critically:

Cover the options, read the stem, and try to answer

Select the option that most closely matches your answer

Read the stem with each option

Treat each option as a true-false question, and choose the "most true"

Strategies to answer difficult questions:

 Eliminate options you know to be incorrect

If allowed, mark words or alternatives in questions that eliminate the
option
 Give each option of a question the "true-false test:"
This may reduce your selection to the best answer
 Question options that grammatically don't fit with the stem
 Question options that are totally unfamiliar to you
 Question options that contain negative or absolute words.
Try substituting a qualified term for the absolute one, like frequently
for always; or typical for every to see if you can eliminate it
 "All of the above:"
If you know two of three options seem correct, "all of the above" is a
strong possibility
  Number answers:
toss out the high and low and consider the middle range numbers
 "Look alike options"
probably one is correct; choose the best but eliminate choices that
mean basically the same thing, and thus cancel each other out
 Double negatives:
Create the equivalent positive statement and consider
 Echo options:
If two options are opposite each other, chances are one of them is
correct
 Favor options that contain qualifiers
The result is longer, more inclusive items that better fill the role of
the answer
 If two alternatives seem correct,
compare them for differences,
then refer to the stem to find your best answer

Guessing:

 Always guess when there is no penalty

for guessing or you can eliminate options
 Don't guess if you are penalized for guessing
and if you have no basis for your choice
 Use hints from questions you know
to answer questions you do not.
 Change your first answers
when you are sure of the correction, or other cues in the test cue you
to change.

Remember that you are looking for the best answer,

not only a correct one, and not one which must be true all of the time, in all cases, and
without exception.
Before the Test

1. Stay up-to-date on assignments. Learn material and review as you go along.

2. Make sure you understand the information as you are learning it. That way, you
won't have to "re-learn" it OR have to "cram" a great deal of information at one
time.
3. Read and study information in meaningful chunks (by chapters or units) so that
you'll be able to "file" and "retrieve" information easily.
4. At the end of each chapter or unit, identify the information that was most
important. Make up "flash cards" on this information that you can easily carry and
use for study on a regular basis.
5. Analyze past tests to determine how you can improve test results.
6. Get the big picture. Ask the instructor about the test. Find out what information
will be stressed and the kinds of questions that will be asked. Then go over your
text and lecture notes to develop a study strategy. Map or outline the course
contents if you haven't done so previously.
7. Before a test or exam, break study sessions into manageable time segments and
meaningful units. You'll remember more if you study for short periods of time (45
minutes to 1 hour) and over a longer period of time (1-2 weeks) than if you cram
all your study into a "binge" session the night before the test.
8. Practice answering essay questions BEFORE the test. Use cognitive questions at
all levels to assure learning and ability to answer essay questions. For example:
How would you describe, compare/contrast, predict, classify, apply, evaluate,
prioritize, etc?
9. Use mnemonic techniques to memorize lists, definitions, and other specific kinds
of information.
10. Form a study group with other students in your class to discuss and quiz each
other on important material. This will add other perspectives and help to
"complete" your study if you tend to be either a "detailed" or "big-picture" learner.
11. Maintain healthy living habits. Get a good night's sleep before the test.

During the Test

1. Get to the test site early so you can select a seat, organize your materials, and get
relaxed. Be prepared with pencils, paper, calculator, books (if appropriate), etc.
2. Get the big picture. Survey the entire test before you answer any questions. This
will help you to get an overview of what's expected and to strategize how you will
take the test.
3. Take a few deep breaths and to relax tense muscles. Repeat throughout the test.
This process will help you to stay relaxed and to make more energy available for
remembering, thinking, and writing.
4. Read directions carefully. Ask questions if you don't understand or need
clarification.
5. Do a quick "mind dump" of information you don't want to forget. Write it down on
scrap paper or in the margin.
6. Answer the easiest questions first, to help yourself calm down. Matching questions
are often good to start with because they provide a reminder of important terms
and definitions.
7. Use good strategies for answering multiple choice and other objective questions.
o Look for the central idea of each question. What is the main point?
o Statements that begin with always, never, none, except, most, or least-are
probably NOT the answer . Underline these or other key words if you are
allowed to write on the test paper.
o Try to supply your own answer before choosing an alternative listed on the
test.
o Mark an answer for every question.
o If you have to guess:
 The length of choices can be a clue. Choose the longest.
 If two choices are similar, choose neither.
 If two choices are opposites, choose one of them.
 The most general alternative is usually the right answer.
8. When answering essay questions, remember that the objective is to demonstrate
how well you can explain and support an idea, not just what you know. Keep the
following in mind:
o Read over all the essay questions before you start to write. Underline key
words like define, compare, explain, etc.
o Think before you write. Remember, a good answer:
 Starts with a direct response to the question.
 Mentions the topics or areas described in the question.
 Provides specific as well as general information.
 Uses the technical vocabulary of the course.
o Then map or outline the main points you want to make, determine the order
in which you want to write your points, determine the support you want to
add, then write.
o Write legibly. Leave some space so you can add to your answer, later.
o Proofread your essay. Check for grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. This
often adds points!
9. When problem solving, ask yourself:
o What am I being asked to find?
o What do I need to know in order to find the answer?
 o What information has been provided that will help me to find the answer?
o How can I break the problem down into parts? What steps should I follow
to solve the problem?
o Does the answer make sense? Does it cover the whole problem?
10. Keep an eye on the clock. Make sure you'll have time to complete the test sections
with the highest value, if not the entire test.

After the Test

When you receive your test paper, go over it to determine areas of strength and weakness
in your test-taking skills. If you have done poorly, learn from your mistakes! Always
analyze your tests to determine how you can improve future test results.
Multiple-Choice Exam Strategies

Multiple-choice exams are probably the most straightforward of the different exam types, but nevertheless there are a
number of different techniques and strategies that you can adopt to tilt the odds more in your direction.

Multiple-choice tips and techniques

After you have read the question, see if you can answer it in your head before looking at the answers. Try to
anticipate what the answer will be, but don’t be disillusioned if the answer you were expecting isn’t in the list of
answers. In that situation, make sure to read each answer carefully and select the best answer that matches your
original thought.

Read the question and then answer it with each of the answers. Do it for each answer. See if the answer makes
sense when tagged straight on to the end of the question, and look out for hint words.

Multiple choice questions are not only testing that you know the right answer, they also test that you know the wrong
answers too. So it’s very important to read all of the options that are presented to you in a multiple choice question
even if you think you've spotted the right answer in the first option or two.

Read the question very carefully, and watch out for ‘phrase traps’. These traps can be things like:

-Negative phrases (e.g. Choose the option which DOESN’T  describe….)

-Subjective questions (e.g. Choose the option that BEST  describes….)

-Multiple answers (e.g. Choose MORE than one….)

and other grammatical traps like double negatives etc.

Don’t ‘over think’. Sometimes you can tie yourself up in knots looking for answers to questions that weren’t even
asked. If you find yourself thinking too much about a particular question, move on and come back to that question
later.

While you're working through your questions, keep in mind that the answer to previous questions may reveal
themselves through questions you answer later. So if you get stuck on a particular question (and assuming you are
allowed to return to the question later), just flag it and move on. You may find a subsequent question jogs your
memory or gives you a clue.

If you are completely unsure about which answer might be correct, start by eliminating the answers that are obviously
wrong. Normally, in a scenario of 4 possible answers, two of the options will be clearly incorrect. That leaves just two
answers that might be correct. At the very least, if you have to guess, you now have a 50/50 chance of success.

If you have to guess, don’t go for an option that uses terminology that you’ve never heard before or describes a
concept you don't know. Just because it’s a new phrase or concepts doesn’t mean that it’s the correct answer. Again,
trust yourself and the effort you put into studying for that exam. If you suddenly come up against new terms, then it’s
likely not the correct answer.

Use the ‘mark’ button if there is one. This allows you to flag a question for later review. Mark questions that you wish
to re-visit, but don't go back and change an answer until you've come to the end of the exam. You don’t have to
answer all the questions as they come up, and sometimes flagging a question that you’re unsure of might mean that
the answer will come to you later as you answer other questions.
Pace yourself. Sometimes it may seem that you won’t have enough time to finish the exam, but you’d be surprised. In
the end, it’s better to partially complete the questions and get them all right, than to finish the whole exam and get
them all wrong because you rushed.

Don't fall into the habit of allocating a certain amount of time per question based on the total number of questions and
the total time available. It's far better to divide the exam into 'quarters'. In other words, if you have two hours to do
100 questions, don't mentally figure that as 1.2 minutes per question. Instead, it's better to make sure you're roughly
25 questions in to the exam after half an hour, 50 questions after one hour and so on.
Tips for Answering Multiple Choice Questions on Standardized Tests
Test takers sometimes have problems with multiple choice questions because they allow themselves to believe that
these types of questions are easier than other types, and so don’t pay close enough attention to the details of each
question. It is very important for testers to pay close attention to every word of standardized test questions, no matter
how the questions are formatted.

Mastering standardized test taking strategies for multiple choice questions is a key component to successful
standardized testing. The following tips for answering multiple choice questions can be very beneficial the next time
you take a standardized test.

Standardized Test Taking Tips for Multiple Choice Questions:

 Make sure you understand the instruction clearly. For example, should you choose the best answer, or are
you supposed to be identifying an alternative that is false?
 Pay attention to every detail in the question.
 Read each question as if you had to answer it without choosing from a list of alternative answers.
 Try to answer the question first without looking at the list of choices.
 If you know the answer, select it from the list of choices and move on.
 If you don’t know the answer, look at the choices and use the process of elimination to narrow down
choices.
 Verify whether or not there is an “all of the above” or “none of the above” choice before selecting your first
choice answer.
 Use the true/false technique to help you select between two similar answers. (Translate the question into a
statement with each of the possible answers, and select one that is true.)
 If wrong answers don’t count against your test score, don’t leave any questions blank. There is always a
(slight) chance of guessing the right answer.
 If wrong answers count against you, don’t take wild guesses. Educated guesses are likely to work in your
favor a portion of the time, but wild guesses can really hurt you.
1. Ask the teacher ahead of time if there is a penalty for guessing. Normally there is not a penalty on a
classroom test.
2. Read the question carefully and think of an answer before you see your choices. Read the choices to see
if your answer is there. If so, it is probably right. Read the other answers quickly to be certain.
3. If your answer is not one of the choices, then read all the choices carefully and start to eliminate choices.
4. Cross out any answers that are obviously wrong.
5. When you narrow your choices to two, try each answer with the question to see if they both make sense.
Sometimes you'll find a hidden clue, like a subject/verb agreement that gives it away.
6. If you are confused by "all of the above" and "none of the above" questions and they tend to take up too
much time, leave all of those blank and go back to them. These questions have an element of logic to them, and
some people take longer than others to work out logic problems. If you find that they require a little extra
concentration, you may need to treat them as a separate section.
7. Mark any questions that you leave blank so you'll know to come back to them.
8. If you are stumped about a word, dissect it for clues. Think about the meanings of the prefix or suffix.
Compare it to other words that start with the same letters. For example, the prefix "epi" is found in the word
epidermis, which refers to the top layer of the skin. What can you discern, then, about a plant called an "epiphyte?"
Would it have roots that stretch deep into the dirt or would it grow on the surface of something?
9. Don’t second-guess yourself. If you make an educated guess the first time around, don’t go back and start
changing your answers around.
10. Keep an eye on the clock to give yourself time to re-visit the questions you left blank.

Bonus tip: If all else fails, choose B or C! A few studies show that those answers are correct at a slightly higher
rate than A or D.