Taken a multiple choice test lately? Find the experience stressful? Frustrating?
For what it's worth, you've plenty of company.
Multiple choice exams are big in college, especially in the sciences (bio, chem, etc.), the social sciences (psych, soc, econ), business, criminal justice, nursing, and other fields that tend to be theoretical and quantitative.
As you've probably already discovered, MC tests aren't easy. Many contain tricky questions. Some questions appear to have several possible answers--all listed as choices. And the exams themselves can seem endless: fifty or more questions.
But multiple choice tests aren't impossible. True, you won't do well if you haven't reviewed your notes and kept up with assigned readings (no substitute for preparation). And you definitely have to read test questions carefully, for some are subtle.
But you can help yourself (and save time) on MC exams by practicing some simple strategies:
1. Try to answer questions before reviewing the choices. If you think you know the answer to a question, look for it.
2. If you're not sure of an answer, eliminate choices that can't possibly be right. Then try to see which one of the remaining answers is most likely correct.
3. Be careful about answers containing the words "only," "always," or "never" or phrases such as "None of the Above." These aren't always wrong, but they often are.
4. If you see two or more answers that are clearly correct, look for "All of the Above" as a choice. There's a good chance that's the right answer.
5. If a question asks you to find the answer that is "most correct," look for the best possible fit (keeping in mind that you may be choosing from several good answers).
6. Answer every question, even if in the end you have to guess. P.S. If you run out of time and have no choice but to guess, fill in the remaining blanks (hopefully not too many) with a single letter--B, for example. It's a shot in the dark, but your random guesswork may net you a few right answers.
These strategies won't make MC tests a snap (remember that you still have to keep on top of the material), but they will definitely help. Next time you have a multiple choice exam, try them out.
I used to always get stressed out when taking a multiple choice exam and would get worked up before even starting it. After much experience with this particular format for testing throughout college, I am now able to remain calm before and during an exam. I use the strategies mentioned in this post, take deep breaths, and I don’t put so much pressure on myself to finish right away. I also pretty much know what to expect because I've taken multiple choice tests so many times. Even though I’m less stressed over this format now than I used to, there’s still the stress of studying to deal with.
ReplyDeleteThere are hard questions during a multiple choice questions. The one strategies to answer a multiple choice question is that if you are not sure of an answer, eliminate choices that can't possibly be the right answer. I learned that if you don't know the material on that question you not so certain about you can eliminate the best possible wrong answer. Also the best possible answer could appear in another question on the test.
ReplyDelete