Multiple-choice questions consist of 3 parts:

1.      a stem, which asks a question, poses a problem, or presents an incomplete sentence.

2.      the correct answers, which appears among

3.      a number of “distracters” or “seductive” alternatives

1.      Read all choices- don’t stop with 2^nd or 3^rd choices, even if you are certain that you have found the correct answer.  Your job is to pick the best answer that is available

2.      It is possible for every alternative to be familiar.  The problem, then, is not familiarity, but rather understanding the meaning of each of the alternatives with respect to the context of the question posed.  You can best achieve this level of understanding by studying for the test as though it will be a short answer or essay test.

3.      When you have choices that are combinations of previously listed choices- treat each choice when combined with the stem, as a true or false statement.  Select the choice that has all true statements.

4.      Use logic and common sense- even if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter, it is sometimes possible to reason out the correct answer.

5.      Examine closely items that are very similar.  Try to express each in your own words and then analyze how they differ.

6.      Look for the level of qualifying words.  Be careful in selecting items that contain such words as best, always, all, no, never, none, entirely, completely all of which suggest that a condition exists without exception.  Items containing words that provide for some level of exception, or qualification, are more likely to be correct.  Here are a few examples: often, usually, less, seldom, few, more, and most.

7.      Avoid choosing answers that are unfamiliar or that you do not understand.  A choice that looks complicated or uses difficult words is not necessarily correct.  If you have studied carefully, a choice that is unfamiliar to you is probably incorrect.  You are being tested to see if you know the difference between what “looks right” and what “is right”

8.      Make educated guesses.  Try to eliminate at least one of the choices.  If you are unable to do that guess by picking the one that seems most complete and contains the most information.

9.      “All of the above” answers are often correct.  If you know that two or three of the options are correct, “all of the above” is a strong possibility.

10.  If, after your very best effort. You cannot choose between two alternatives, try vividly imagining each one as the correct answer.  If you are like most people, you will often feel that one of the answers is wrong.  Trust this feeling—research suggests that feelings are frequently accessible even when recall is poor.

11.  While taking the test Don’t Skip Around.  Skipping around the exam can waste valuable time because at some point you will have to spend time searching for the skipped questions and re-reading them.  Answer each question in order.  If you are truly baffled by a question, mark the answer you believe to be right, place a mark next to the question and come back to it.  By going in order- a question that you could not figure out may be answered in a question later in the test.

12.  Study Tips- study alone at first and study with others afterward.  During the first part- carefully review you notes and the textbook.  When you feel confident of the material study with one or more classmates.  This allows others to pick the material, thereby exposing the gaps in your knowledge (just as the exam does)