The multiple-choice question and answer are a staple of standardized tests, but they can also be found in many other settings. In multiple-choice questions and answers, a question is presented with several possible answers from which the test taker must choose the correct answer.
While it can be an effective way to test knowledge, it can also be difficult to construct an answer. We have compiled a few tips to help you make the most of multiple-choice questions and answers.
With the following tips, you can improve your chances of getting the correct answer and ace your next test.
Table of Content hide
1 Read What Is Being Asked
2 Evaluate Each Answer
3 Mentally Answer the Question
4 Use the Process of Elimination
5 Choose the Best Answer You Can
6 Read Every Answer Option
7 Skip Questions You Don’t Know.
8 Make an Educated Guess
9 Pay Attention to Keywords
10 Sticking with Your First Choice Can Be Helpful – But Not Always
11 The “All of the above” and “None of the above”
12 Encountering Two Answers That Seems Correct
13 Positive and Negative Wording
14 Answer with More Information
15 Guess Like A Street Magician
16 Final Thoughts
Read What Is Being Asked
This may seem obvious, but it is worth repeating. When confronted with a multiple-choice question, take a moment to read the question carefully. This will help you understand what is being asked and eliminate any wrong answers. It is important to read the question before looking at the answers.
Evaluate Each Answer
Once you have read the question, it is time to look at the answers. If it could be the correct answer, then select it. However, if an answer is wrong, then you can eliminate it.
Mentally Answer the Question
Once you have read the question, take a moment to think about what the answer might be. This will help you eliminate any wrong answers and give you a better idea of the correct one.
Use the Process of Elimination
If you are having trouble selecting a specific answer, you can use the process of elimination. This eliminates inaccurate answers and selects the best answer from the remaining options. You increase your chances of choosing the correct answer by eliminating the incorrect options answers.
Choose the Best Answer You Can
Even if you are unsure of the answer, you should still choose the best answer as per your understanding. In many cases, there is only one correct answer. However, there may be multiple answers in a few exceptional cases that could be considered correct. In these cases, you should select the answer that you think is most likely to be correct. Select the answer that makes the most sense given the information in the question.
Read Every Answer Option
Before choosing the final answer, it is important to read every answer option. In some cases, the incorrect answers can be as helpful as the correct answer. Incorrect answers can help you eliminate other incorrect answers and help you better understand the question.
When rushing through a test, it can be easy to select the false answer accidentally. You can avoid this mistake by taking the time to read every answer option carefully.
Skip Questions You Don’t Know.
If you have trouble with a question, don’t waste too much time on it. It is important to answer every question on a test, but you don’t want to spend too much time on a single question. If you can’t find the answer, make an educated guess and move on. You can always come back to the question later if you have time.
Make an Educated Guess
If it does not adversely affect your score, make an educated guess. In some cases, you may be able to eliminate one or more of the answers. If you can’t eliminate any of the answers, you should select the answer you think is most likely to be correct.
Pay Attention to Keywords
When reading a multiple-choice question, pay attention to any keywords present. These keywords can clue you in on what is being asked and help you eliminate any wrong answers. Common keywords include:
- all of the above
- none of the above
- not
- except
- least
- most
- first
- best
Keywords can be helpful, but you should not rely on them too much. Just because a word is present in the question does not mean that it is necessarily important.
Sticking with Your First Choice Can Be Helpful – But Not Always
If you are having trouble with a question, it is important to consider all of the answer options. In some cases, stick with your first choice. If you keep on second-guessing yourself, it can be easy to talk yourself out of the correct answer.
Answer options are constant in having the most common wrong answer, the answer that seems logical but is not correct, and the best answer. Ensure to go through each answer option and choose the best one.
A multiple-choice question and answer are not made to trick students, so do not feel discouraged if it takes more than one time to get the question right.
The “All of the above” and “None of the above”
When you come across questions with these answer options, be cautious. These answers are usually included as a trap for students who did not read the question carefully. Do not choose “all of the above” if you are sure that at least one of the other answer options is incorrect. Do not choose “none of the above” if you are sure that at least one of the other answer options is correct.
Encountering Two Answers That Seems Correct
If you encounter two answers that both seem correct, with an “all of the above” option, then the most probable answer is “all of the above.” If you encounter two answers that seem correct, with a “none of the above” option, then the most probable answer is “none of the above.”
Positive and Negative Wording
When there’s a positive claim on one of the answers and a negative one on another, the answer options are probably true or false. Place your bet on the positive option being the correct one.
Answer with More Information
In some cases, you may encounter an answer option that seems incorrect but contains more information than the other options. This can be a clue that the answer is correct. The test creators want to make sure that students understand the material and not just memorize the facts.
Guess Like A Street Magician
In some questions where you are left with two probable answers and no time to spare, you can guess by using the process of elimination. For example, let’s say you are trying to choose between answers A and D and have no correct clue. If answer A says “true,” then answer D must be “false.” If answer A says “false,” then answer D must be “true.” You can use this method to eliminate one of the answer options quickly.
Final Thoughts
There is no one answer for how to answer multiple-choice questions correctly. However, by understanding some of the common tips and tricks, you can increase your chances of getting the answer right. Pay attention to keywords, read carefully, and eliminate any wrong answers.
If you are still unsure, then take a guess and choose the answer that seems correct. You can greatly increase your success rate on multiple-choice questions with practice.
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