How to Take a Multiple-Choice Test

Things to Find Out First:

1) How are the multiple-choice items graded. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, then you should answer every question, even the ones on which you are completely clueless (in four-option questions, you have a 25% probability of hitting right answers by random chance). If there is a penalty for wrong answers, then you should leave unknown questions blank unless you can eliminate enough possibilities to put the odds in your favor.

2) How much time will you have. Check over the test and figure out how much time you want to budget for the different sections. This is not easy to foresee exactly, but you want to have rough targets that you can use to pace yourself.

Strategies:

1) Read over the question carefully, ALL alternatives. Mark your preferred answer. Move along quickly.

2) If you are not clear about the answer, reread the question, then proceed as above.

3) If two readings do not reveal the answer, then mark the question in some way so that you know you have temporarily skipped it, and then move along. Even though you will probably eventually want to answer the question, it is better to skip it temporarily rather than stare at it, not only because of the time factor but also because the information found in some later question may jog your memory.

Common Mistakes:

1) Not reading through all possible choices carefully. Even if an early answer seems right, the appearance of a later option that also seems correct can be a stimulus for rethinking. Even if a) is right, the possibility remains that the best answers is "d) all of the above."

2) Taking too much time. Multiple-choice questions often constitute only one part of a test. Try to get through them as quickly as possible. If you spend most of a test contemplating multiple-choice options you may not have sufficient time to write essays, identifications, etc.

3) Second guessing. Many studies--and almost all teachers--will tell you that second guessing yourself on multiple choice answers is a losing strategy. Students more often talk themselves out of right answers than out of wrong ones (this is statistically understandable if over 50% of your answers were right and you are randomly changing the answers on items on which you feel clueless). Even if, when changing answers, you break even, you still waste time that could have been better spent on other parts of the test.