Multiple Choice Test-Taking Tips:

We want a society in which we are free to make choices, 
to make mistakes, 
and be generous and compassionate.
Margaret Thatcher, English
1925 -

Multiple choice questions include a phrase or stem followed by three to five options:

· Read the directions carefully

· Know if each question has one or more correct option

· Know if you are penalized for guessing

· Answer easy questions first

• 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"

· Eliminate options you know to be incorrect

· 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

· 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

· 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

· Don't change your answers
unless you are sure of the correction

· Use hints from questions you know
to answer questions you do not.

The above information is courtesy of : http://www.studygs.net/tsttak1.htm

 

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