While multiple-choice exams may seem challenging, you can prepare yourself by understanding the

structure of a multiple-choice test and how to approach these types of exams. Remember, the correct
answer is right there in front of you! By carefully analyzing each question and choices offered, you can
increase your chances of performing well on each multiple-choice test you take.

The Structure of a Multiple-Choice Question

Each question consists of just three parts:

1. The first part a multiple-choice problem is the basic section that asks a question, gives and
incomplete sentence, or poses a problem that you are expected to solve.

2. The next part of the question is a number of distracting alternatives. These are the incorrect
answers that are designed to test your true knowledge of the subject. Some of these
alternatives may seem correct, so it is important to know the topic well to avoid selecting an
incorrect answer.

3. The final part of a multiple-choice problem is the correct answer to the question or problem that
is posed.

Techniques For Exams

In addition to following good study habits, there are steps you can take during an exam to ensure you
choose the correct answer.

 Read the question carefully! The most common exam errors occur when students fail to
accurately or thoroughly read each question.

 Read all of the choices. Don’t stop reading all of your options simply because you think you’ve
already found the correct choice.

 If you are struggling with a question, try reposing each option as a true-or-false question.

 Even if you are unfamiliar with the question, try to use common sense or logic when selecting
the best possible answer.
  Take notice of all-or-nothing words or phrases. Examples include words such as "Every,"
"Always" and "All." These are less likely to be correct than words that offer room for exceptions
or alternatives such as "Some," "Many" or "Few."

 Answer questions in the order they come. If you spend a great deal of time skipping around,
you are likely to mistakenly leave some questions unanswered. If you are stuck on a question,
put a mark off to the side and come back to it when you have answered the rest of the
questions.

 Guess! Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so never leave any question on a multiple-choice test
blank.

While no amount of strategy can compensate for poor study habits, understanding the structure of a
multiple-choice test and using good test-taking techniques can improve your performance. Combining
these techniques with preparation and knowledge of the subject is the best route to academic success.

Multiple-Choice Questions

• Read the question and answer it before reading the choices

• Look for similar answers, it will usually be the right answer

• Cross off answers that you know are wrong

• Read all the options before selecting your answer

• If you cannot answer, move on to the next one. Another question might trigger the answer

• Make an educated guess if you must

• Answer every question unless there is a penalty for guessing

 Multiple Choice Test Taking Tips

Tips on answering multiple choice questions

Read the question before you look at the answer.

Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the
choices given on the test won't throw you off or trick you.

Eliminate answers you know aren't right.

Read all the choices before choosing your answer.

If there is no guessing penalty, always take an educated guess and select an answer.

Don't keep on changing your answer, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you
misread the question.

In "All of the above" and "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of the
statements is true don't choose "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't
choose "All of the above".

In a question with an "All of the above" choice, if you see that at least two correct statements,
then "All of the above" is probably the answer.

A positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative one.

Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.