Succeeding at multiple choice quizzes, tests, and exams

Most students are familiar with multiple choice type tests,  particularly international students who have taken entrance exams or IELTS or TOEFL tests.    Some students are very good at these types of tests,  while others do very poorly on them.

Multiple choice tests can be a serious challenge for students for several reasons.   First,  you need to carefully read all of the question including all the choices.    If your reading and vocabulary skills are limited,  this can be problematic.    Second,  you need to think seriously and strategically.    Usually,  if there are four choices,   then you should be able to eliminate two of them fairly easily.   This leaves just two choices, both of which may be possible.    Your job however,   is to choose the best answer.  There isn't always only one right answer.   If you are not comfortable with ambiguity,  then this can also be a problem.

Therefore,  the following recommendations should improve your multiple choice test taking performance.

1. Improve your reading and vocabulary skills,  with a focus on your area of study.   Improving your reading speed may be especially helpful.   You may want to do practice multiple choice tests to practice specifically this kind of reading.
2. Carefully read the question to make certain you understand it.    A good strategy is to not look at the choices until after you have read and understood the question.
3. Eliminate the unlikely or impossible choices.
4. Choose what under the circumstances and in accordance with the question is the "best" choice.
5. Manage your time carefully.  Usually with multiple choice questions,  there are many questions to answer.  For example,  if there are 60 questions in a one-hour exam,  you have 1 minute per question.     
6. Know the details of your area of study,  not just the general ideas,  because multiple choice questions usually include such details.
7. Be certain to answer all the questions on a test.   If there are 4 choices,  you  have a 25% chance of getting it right just by guessing.
8. "All of the above"  is often the correct answer.   
9. Manage your anxiety.   If you are nervous and stressed,   you especially won't do very well on these type of exams.   Do something before and during the test to relax.
10. I like to do the easy questions first as it builds my confidence and my  context.   This can be like a kind of warm up.   Don't get stuck on difficult questions.   See tip #5.

There are more strategies out there that can help you, but following these simple ten tips should add a few percentage points to your multiple choice test results.    The most important piece of advice is to know and understand the material that is being tested because then you will be better able to read and think,  which underlies successful multiple choice test performance.

The following webpages provide additional advice and information.



Multiple Choice Exam Advice

Answering Multiple Choice Questions

More tips for taking multiple choice tests

Test taking strategies

Mastering Multiple Choice  (some handy tips in an ebook)


Finally,  you can practice taking some multiple choice quizzes here.    Try to use the new tips you have learned.

Multiple Choice Reading Quiz (6 questions)

Canadian Citizenship Practice Test (100 questions)

BC Driving Test 

International Economics Practice Test (25 questions)