Oxford University Press | Online Resource Centre | Multiple choice questions (2023)

FAQs

How to pass a multiple choice test without knowing anything? ›

On tests with four choices (say, A, B, C, and D), B was slightly more likely to be correct (28%). Remember, the expected likelihood of each option being correct is 25%. And on tests with five choices (say, A, B, C, D, and E), E was the most commonly correct answer (23%). C was the least (17%).

Answer it in your mind first.

After reading a question, answer it in your mind before reviewing the answer options. This will help prevent you from talking yourself out of the correct answer.

Myth 2: C is the best guess letter and is right more often than any other letter. C or H are right (and wrong) as often as any other answer choice. The only guess letter you don't want to use when you are completely guessing is E or K because they only show up on the math test.

For every question, there are two outcomes: Either you answer correctly or you don't. If you pick a random answer, the probability of guessing the right answer is one out of four, 1/4, or 0.25. Consequently, the probability of guessing wrong is a lot higher at 3/4 or 0.75.

The idea that C is the best answer to choose when guess-answering a question on a multiple choice test rests on the premise that ACT answer choices are not truly randomized. In other words, the implication is that answer choice C is correct more often than any other answer choice.

Many students think of multiple choice tests as “easy” tests, but the truth is, they can be very difficult. From “none of the above” and “all of the above” questions to the shorter amount of time many teachers allot for taking multiple choice tests, these tests can be much more challenging than students expect.

The multiple-choice questions on this test have four choices, so your odds are 1 out of 4 that you can pick correctly. To put it another way, you have a 25 percent chance of guessing correctly. These aren't great odds, so you have to find a way to increase them. To do so, you use the process of elimination.

The stem is the opening—a problem to be solved, a question asked, or an incomplete statement to be completed. The options are the possible answers that the examinee can choose from, with the correct answer called the key and the incorrect answers called distractors.

How can I get better at multiple choice questions? ›

Answers should provide a step-by-step explanation, be organized, clear, focused, and put, and be written on a white, clear piece of paper.

Instructional Technology Services recommends the following: Multiple Choice questions - 1 minute to 1 ½ minutes per question. This also assumes that computations for multiple choice questions are not required.

What are multiple choice questions? Multiple choice questions are fundamental survey questions which provides respondents with multiple answer options. Primarily, multiple choice questions can have single select or multi select answer options.

Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.

It's best to pick one letter and guess with the same letter throughout the test. It statistically improves the chances of guessing more right. Remember, “When in doubt, pick C!” It doesn't have to be C. It just has to be the same letter every time.

Guess any letter for any question. It doesn't matter if you guess A,B,A,B or A,A,A,A or any variation. Your expected number of correct answers are equal—actually, you'll actually do sliiightly better by guessing randomly on every question.

Lack of understanding: Multiple-choice questions often require a good understanding of the subject matter. If you haven't fully understood the concepts or haven't studied enough, you might struggle with answering the questions correctly.

True/false questions provide students with a 50% chance of guessing the right answer. For this reason, multiple choice questions are often used instead of true/false questions.

How do I stop second guessing myself on a test? ›

Second guessing:

If you work through the exam calmly and methodically, you can avoid second guessing yourself. Once you have committed to an answer, don't go back and change it unless you can identify a good reason to reject your original selection.

The previous version of the SAT had what's known as a “guessing penalty,” meaning points were deducted for any incorrect answer. However, on the tests you'll take today you do not lose any points for wrong answers, so you should bubble in a response to every question.

For those guessing on only a few of the last ten questions, A/F would be the better option. The Safe Bet: Answer choice E/K is the safest choice because it, so far, has always had one correct answer. In fact, E/K has met or exceeded the expected average 82% of the time, making it the most consistent answer choice.

Research shows that what makes these people so good at taking tests is likely a mix of: Low test-taking anxiety which allows them to perform better in the moment. Well-informed schemas that provide greater context and allow them to make more educated assumptions (guesses) especially when the test is multiple choice.

If you are genuinely picking at random, it is 1 in 16. There are sixteen possible combinations of answers: for each answer you give to the first question, you also have a choice of four for the second question. Only one combination results in both being right.

Negative questions, also known as odd-one-out questions are a type of multiple choice question in which the correct answer is the one that is false, surrounded by true distractors. For example: Question: Which of the following statements about Onodi cells (sphenoethmoidal air cells) is INCORRECT?

Here, there are 4 choices per question, and 10 questions. Choosing an answer for each question is a sequential task, so there are 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4=410 ways to answer.

Required number of ways are 210=1024, because every question may be answered in 2 ways.

The wrong answers are sometimes called the distractors and the utility of these questions often rely more on the quality of the distractors than either the questions themselves or their correct answers.

What are the four parts of multiple-choice questions? ›

1, a question is composed of four components: (1) a target word, which is the word being tested in the question, (2) a reading passage, in which the target word appears, (3) the correct answer, and (4) three distractors, or incorrect options.

There are three parts to a multiple-choice question: the root, the stem, and the answer set. The root is the hypothetical fact pattern. When analyzing the fact pattern, stick to what is written on the page and do not make assumptions.

Test anxiety can be a real problem if you're so stressed out over a test that you can't get past the nervousness to focus on the test questions and do your best work. Feeling ready to meet the challenge, though, can keep test anxiety at a manageable level. Use a little stress to your advantage.

Best answer tests always include the correct answer as one of the possible answer choices. Statements with qualified terms tend to be true.

They allow respondents to pick just one answer from a list of given options. The “single answer” label refers to the number of answers that a respondent can select – for this question type a respondent can only select a single answer from a list of answer options.

Recognition is easier than recall. Multiple-choice tests are generally easier than fill-in-the-blanks tests or essays because it is easier to recognize the correct answer out of a group of possibilities than it is to have to dredge up the answer out of ones own head.

Distractors or alternatives are the answers other than the correct answer. Distractors should be plausible. Easy or silly distractors reduce the validity of the assessment. Distractors should all be roughly the same length and level of detail.

Factual questions (level one) can be answered explicitly by facts contained in the text. Inferential questions (level two) can be answered through analysis and interpretation of specific parts of the text. Universal questions (level three) are open-ended questions that are raised by ideas in the text.

What is an example of a choice question? ›

Choice questions can be either general, open-ended questions or more specific ones. If the question does not center on the subject of the sentence, a complete answer is needed. For example: Does she like ice cream or sweets?

Many students think of multiple choice tests as “easy” tests, but the truth is, they can be very difficult. From “none of the above” and “all of the above” questions to the shorter amount of time many teachers allot for taking multiple choice tests, these tests can be much more challenging than students expect.

QuizMe App | Interactive quiz with multiple choice questions.

The stem is the opening—a problem to be solved, a question asked, or an incomplete statement to be completed. The options are the possible answers that the examinee can choose from, with the correct answer called the key and the incorrect answers called distractors.

Instructional Technology Services recommends the following: Multiple Choice questions - 1 minute to 1 ½ minutes per question. This also assumes that computations for multiple choice questions are not required.

countable noun. If someone asks you a trick question, they ask you a question which is very difficult to answer, for example, because there is a hidden difficulty or because the answer that seems obvious is not the correct one.

How do you ace a test the night before? ›

Ideally, studying should start at least five days in advance of the exam to allow students an ample amount of time to go over course concepts and materials, and reach out to their instructor or peers if they find they have any questions.

Common reasons for exam failure include poor preparation, time management, and understanding of the concepts. Distractions, anxiety, and health issues can also lead to failure. Failures are part and parcel of life. It should be used constructively to prepare better for the exam.

A general rule is to spend two hours on homework or studying for every hour that your class meets. For example, if your economics class meets for an hour, three times a week, you might expect to spend six hours a week on homework or studying for your upcoming econ exams.