Rules & instructions to write an MCQ

An MCQ (Item) can be constructed in following two ways:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Stem (Question text) is in “Interrogative” way – Using ‘Wh’ words and ‘how’.
E.g.
Which of the following liquids should be used in manometer to find very small pressure difference in air?
(i) Red oil
(ii) Mercury
(iii) Water
(iv) Kerosene
Answer Key: (iii)

E.g.
Who is known as the father of "White Revolution in India”?
(i) B. P. Pal
(ii) V. Kurien
(iii) Dr. Manmohan Singh
(iv) M. S. Swaminathan
Answer Key: (ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Stem is in “Complete the sentence” way – to select an option that will complete the stem.
E.g.
An amplifier with resistive negative feedback has two left-plane poles in its open-loop transfer function. The amplifier will
be
(i) always unstable at high frequency
(ii) stable for all frequency
(iii) unstable, depending on the feedback factor
(iv) oscillating at low frequency
Answer Key: (ii)

E.g.
A man weighing 60kg climbs a staircase carrying a 20kg load in his hand. The staircase has 20 steps and each step has a
height of 20 cm. If he takes 20 seconds to climb, his power is
(i) 230 W
(ii) 160 W
(iii) 320 W
(iv) 80 W
Answer Key: (iii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is suggested to preferably write an Item in these two ways only as mentioned above.
In this document 8 rules have been given based on the most common mistakes happen during creating MCQs (Items).
In the next pages all these rules have been elaborated one by one with few examples in respective tables followed by a
guide line about the “Justification of the Answer” that must be provided for each question.

In the sample MCQs inside tables, option(s) in bold indicate the correct answer.

Page 1 of 8
Some of the Dos and Don’ts must be followed while ‘Writing Items’ as mentioned
below [ Rules (i) – (viii) ]:

(i) Try to put the ‘wh’ words and ‘how’ at the starting of sentence within the question text (stem) while writing
question in interrogative way (Check samples 1 and 2 in Table-I).
Table-I
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach
Sumit can reach a shop via 4 routes from home. In how
many ways can he go to the shop on Monday and
Tuesday?
1. If a boy can reach the shop via 4 routes, then he can (1) 4
go to shop on Monday and Tuesday in how many (2) 6
ways? (3) 8
(4) 10
(1) 4
(2) 6 Alt: (Using ‘if, then’)
(3) 8 Sumit can reach a shop via 4 routes from home. If he
(4) 10 can go to the shop on Monday and Tuesday only, then
in how many ways can he go to the shop?
(1) 4
(2) 6
(3) 8
(4) 10
The most important criterion of a good 'sample' in What is the most important criterion of a good ‘sample'
statistics and data analysis is what? in statistics and data analysis?
2.
A. Small Size A. Small Size
B. Large Size B. Large Size
C. Ambiguity C. Ambiguity
D. Representativeness D. Representativeness

(ii) Don’t write a question text too briefly. It is better to provide a context within the question text. Please note,
final question paper will NOT have the topic/subtopic names mentioned. (Check samples 1-4 in Table-II).
Table-II
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach
Floor area ratio is In building bye-laws and zoning regulations for
1. buildings, the floor area ratio is
(1) total area of all the floors to the total plot
area (1) total area of all the floors to the total plot area
(2) total Carpet area of all the floors to the total (2) total Carpet area of all the floors to the total
plot area plot area
(3) total area of all the floors to the Ground Floor (3) total area of all the floors to the Ground Floor
area area
(4) total Plot area to the Total Ground Coverage (4) total Plot area to the Total Ground Coverage

Page 2 of 8
 In which year, the New Industrial Policy was In which year was the New Industrial Policy announced
announced? by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India?
2.
A. 1997 A. 1997
B. 1951 B. 1951
C. 1991 C. 1991
D. 1998 D. 1998

Minutes of a General Meeting shall be signed and Every Company is required to record the minutes of the
3. dated by: proceedings of General Meetings. Who is authorised
A. Managing Director by law to sign and date minutes of the General
B. Chairman Meeting?
C. All or majority of Directors present A. Managing Director
D. Chief Executive Officer B. Chairman
C. All or majority of Directors present
D. Chief Executive Officer
What is a namespace? What is a namespace in Python?
4.
A) A dictionary of variable names and its A) A dictionary of variable names and its objects
objects
B) A dictionary that contains python path B) A dictionary that contains python path
C) A dictionary that to store anything. C) A dictionary that to store anything.
D) A dictionary that contains only classes D) A dictionary that contains only classes

(iii) Stem should NOT look like a command. Rather construct the stem in either of the earlier mentioned two ways.
If the item does NOT contain the usual stem in the earlier two ways (1 and 2), but there is any information
following which correct answer can be arrived at, kindly enwrap that information as an Instruction OR
Direction. (Check samples 1-5 in Table-III).
Table-III
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach

1. Find the number of diagonals that can be obtained The number of diagonals that can be obtained by
by joining the angular points of 6-sided polygon? joining the angular points of 6-sided polygon is

A. 6 A. 6
B. 9 B. 9
C. 10 C. 10
D. 12 D. 12

2. Convert 4.5 m/s2 to ft/s2. The measurement of 4.5 m/s2 can be converted to
(1) 20/76 ft/s2 (1) 20/76 ft/s2
(2) 15.76 ft/s2 (2) 15.76 ft/s2
(3) 14.76 ft/s2 (3) 14.76 ft/s2
(4) 12.76 ft/s2 (4) 12.76 ft/s2

Find out the odd one out. Which of the following is odd pair out?
3. 1. male : female 1. male : female
2. bull : cow 2. bull : cow
3. hen : ox 3. hen : ox
4. boar : sow 4. boar : sow

Page 3 of 8
 Two statements and four conclusions are given Instruction: Two statements and four conclusions are
below. Select an option to decide which of the given below. Select an option to decide which of the
conclusions follow the statements. conclusions follow the statements.

Statements: Some apples are sweets. Statements: Some apples are sweets.
No sweet is a fruit. No sweet is a fruit.
Conclusions: Conclusions:
4. (i) No apple is a fruit (i) No apple is a fruit
(ii) Some apples are fruit (ii) Some apples are fruit
(iii) Some fruits are apples (iii) Some fruits are apples
(iv) No fruit is a apple (iv) No fruit is a apple

1. None of the conclusions follow 1. None of the conclusions follow

2. Only (ii) follows 2. Only ii follow
3. Only (ii) and (iii) follow 3. Only ii and iii follows
4. Only (i) follows 4. Only i follow
A statement and two assumptions are given below. Direction: A statement and two assumptions are given
Select an option to indicate the proper assumption(s) below. Select an option to indicate the proper
that is/are implicit in the given statement. assumption(s) that is/are implicit in the given
statement.
Statement: “If you want to learn French
language join institute X”- A’s advice to B. Statement: “If you want to learn French language
Assumptions: join institute X”- A’s advice to B.
5. 1) B will not listen to A’s advice. Assumptions:
2) Institute X provides good French language 1) B will not listen to A’s advice.
classes. 2) Institute X provides good French language
classes.
1. only 1
2. only 2 1. only 1
3. Both 1 and 2 2. only 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2 3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

(iv) Do NOT make the question text (stem) unnecessarily very lengthy. Separate sentences can also be written
within the question text to make it easy to read. Do NOT provide two separate questions within a single stem
(Check samples 1-4 in Table-IV).

Table-IV
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach

1. In following question, a number series is given with The missing term in the sequence
one term missing. Choose the correct alternative that 15, 21, 33, 57, 105, ….. , 393 is
will same pattern and fill in the blank spaces.
15, 21, 33, 57, 105, ? , 393 1. 201
1. 201 2. 204
2. 204 3. 208
3. 208 4. 219
4. 219

Page 4 of 8
 If an amplified bacterial 16S rRNA gene product is An amplified bacterial 16S rRNA gene product is
2. digested by a tetra cutter restriction enzyme, how digested by a tetra cutter restriction enzyme. How
many bands can you find in agarose gel many bands can you find in agarose gel
electrophoresis? electrophoresis here?”
A. 4 A. 4
B. 5 B. 5
C. 6 C. 6
D. 7 D. 7
Which Layers in IoT operates in bi-directional mode? Which Layers in IoT operates in bi-directional mode?
3. Which acts as an interface between 2 layers?
A) Edge Layer A) Edge
B) Access gateway layer B) Access gateway
C) Middleware C) Middleware
D) Application D) Application
One evening, Sunita and Sunil were talking to each One evening during sunset, Sunita and Sunil were
4. other face to face in Bangalore on Sarjapur Road then talking by facing each other. Sunita’s shadow was
Sunita's Shadow was exactly to the left of Sunil. which exactly to the left of Sunil. Which direction was Sunita
direction was Sunita facing? facing?

1. East 1. East
2. West 2. West
3. North 3. North
4. South 4. South

(v) The options (correct one and the distractors) in the question should be mutually exclusive and homogeneous
(belonging to the same (sub)topic) to each other, so that, the possibility of multi-correct options can be
removed. Options should be in identical length. After all the correct option should NOT be easily guessed by
just looking at the question text and distractors once. (Check the samples 1-5 in Table-V).

Table-V
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach
The graph between the photoelectric current and The graph between the photoelectric current and
1. intensity of light for a photocell is intensity of light for a photocell is
1. a straight line with negative slope 1. a straight line parallel to x-axis
2. a straight line with positive slope 2. a straight line parallel to y-axis
3. a straight line with negative slope passing 3. a straight line with negative slope passing
through the origin through the origin
4. a straight line with positive slope passing 4. a straight line with positive slope passing
through the origin through the origin
Which of the following is/are the major cause(s) of Which of the following is the major cause of anestrus
2. anestrus in dairy goats? in dairy goats?
A. Follicular cysts
A. Follicular cysts B. Pseudopregnancy
B. Pseudopregnancy C. Increased production of PGF2α
C. Luteal cysts D. Melatonin implants
D. Both (B) & (C)

Page 5 of 8
 begin procedure isfull begin procedure MyAlgorithm
3. if rear equals to MAXSIZE if rear equals to MAXSIZE
return true return true
else else
return false
return false
end if
end if
end procedure
end procedure

The above algorithm is used for

If MAXSIZE is the maximum capacity of a queue,
A) Maxsize
then the above algorithm is used to
B) Return
A) find the Maximum size of Queue
C) TRUE
B) find the count of elements filled
D) isfull()
C) check the overflow condition
D) check whether the queue is full

Destination unreachable error message is generated A router generates the error message “Destination
4. by a router when unreachable”, if an IP Packet
A) an IP packet cannot to be delivered to the A) is not delivered to the destination due to
destination due to network congestion network congestion
B) an IP packet is lost due to network smaller B) is lost due to smaller Maximum Transmission
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) Unit (MTU)
C) an IP packet size to larger than the allowed size C) is larger than the Maximum Transmission Unit
D) an IP packet cannot be delivered to destination (MTU)
when destination node is prohibited from D) is not matching with destination entry in
reaching or no matching entry in routing table routing table
Which of the following memory dumping technique
5. Which memory dumping copy bit-by-bit from one copies bit-by-bit from one object to another?
object to another?
A) Copy A) Nested Copy
B) Shallow Copy B) Shallow Copy
C) Deep Copy C) Deep Copy
D) Paste D) Bit Copy

(vi) Please avoid “None of the these” and “All of the above” type options (Check samples 1 and 2 in Table-VI).

Table-VI
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach

1. Within handling activities of hotels, Trancheur in F&B Within handling activities of hotels, Trancheur in F&B
Outlets is primarily responsible for Outlets is primarily responsible for

A. serving Wines, Cigar & Cigarettes A. serving Wines, Cigar & Cigarettes
B. carving Meat, Poultry in the presence of B. carving Meat, Poultry in the presence of Guest
Guest C. clearance &Wiping of serving equipment
C. clearance &Wiping of serving equipment D. serving food items in the guest rooms
D. none of these

Page 6 of 8
2. Which of the following enzymes contains iron? Which of the following enzymes does NOT contain
A. Succinate dehydrogenase iron?
B. Peroxidases A. Succinate dehydrogenase
C. Aconitase B. Peroxidases
D. All of these C. Aconitase
D. Pepsin

(vii) Please write all of the non-English words (if any) within question text and options in ‘Italics’ (Please check the
samples 1-3 in Table-VII).

Table-VII
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach

1. What is the frequency of Suddha Madhyama raga? What is the frequency of ‘Suddha Madhyama’ raga?

A. 120 A. 120
B. 300 B. 300
C. 320 C. 320
D. 380 D. 380

2. Which of the following is a commonly cultivated non- Which of the following is a commonly cultivated
leguminous fodder? non-leguminous fodder?

(1) Sorghum sudanense (1) Sorghum sudanense

(2) Vigna unguiculate (2) Vigna unguiculate
(3) Medicago sativa (3) Medicago sativa
(4) Trifolium alexandrium (4) Trifolium alexandrium

3. In which Chatushka of Charaka Samhita, In which Chatushka of Charaka Samhita,

trayopastambha has been explained? trayopastambha has been explained?

1. Bheshaja 1. Bheshaja
2. Swastha 2. Swastha
3. Nirdesha 3. Nirdesha
4. Kalpana 4. Kalpana

Page 7 of 8
 (viii) Please declare the meaning/significance of all the notations used in the question text/options within the
question itself. For very standard notations within a subject domain you may write “Symbols and notations
carry their usual meaning” (Please check the samples 1-3 in Table-VIII).

Table-VIII
Sample Questions with an improper approach Questions with a better approach
The relation between the eigen values 'Eg’ and
1. The relation between 'Eg’ and 'n' for a particle in a quantum number 'n' for a particle in a potential box
potential box is given as is given as

A. Eg directly proportional to n A. Eg directly proportional to n

B. Eg is inversely proportional to n B. Eg is inversely proportional to n
C. Eg is directly proportional to square of n C. Eg is directly proportional to square of n
D. Eg is directly proportional to cube of n D. Eg is directly proportional to cube of n

The solution of the differential equation For ‘c’ is an arbitrary constant, the solution of the
2. 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥 − √1 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 = 0 is given by differential equation
𝑥𝑑𝑦 + 𝑦𝑑𝑥 − √1 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥 = 0 is given by
A. c = sin−1 (𝑥𝑦)
B. sin−1(𝑥 + 𝑦) = c A. c = sin−1 (𝑥𝑦)
C. 𝑥𝑦 + c = sin−1 𝑥 B. sin−1(𝑥 + 𝑦) = c
D. 𝒙𝒚 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒙 + 𝐜) C. 𝑥𝑦 + c = sin−1 𝑥
D. 𝒙𝒚 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒙 + 𝐜)

If P(A) = P(A|B) = ¼ and P(B|A) = ½, then If A and B are two non-null events such that the
3. probabilities P(A) = P(A|B) = ¼ and P(B|A) = ½, then
(1) A and B are dependent (1) A and B are dependent
(2) P(A) < P(B) (2) P(A) < P(B)
(3) P(A) > P(B) (3) P(A) > P(B)
(4) A and B are independent (4) A and B are independent

Guidelines on Justification/Explanation of the correct answer:

(1) For each question the justification of the correct answer (correct option) must be provided.
(2) For each question a proper explanation should be provided as to why the distractors are NOT the answers.
(3) Justification must NOT be cryptic. The symbols/notations should be declared meaningfully.
(4) Write straight justification/explanation of the answer of the Question, that will include/show the correct answer
also. DON’T mention it is a “basic knowledge” or “candidate should know” as a justification.
(5) If there is any calculation to reach the answer, some steps of the calculations should be provided.
(6) Extra word file can be sent for showing the calculations.
(7) Snapshots of workouts (by pen & paper) or text books contents can be sent. Snapshots should be very clear and
easily readable. Snapshots should NOT show any unnecessary notes/numbering.

Page 8 of 8