by Stephen Hammel

Created on: June 29, 2009

Taking multiple-choice tests is as much about strategy as it is knowledge. Even though a person has thorough content knowledge, he or she may miss some of the answers because of the phrasing of the question, or the format of the requested response. By following a few techniques, the average test-taker can maximize their score on multiple-guess exams, even if there are gaps in knowledge or understanding.

SCAN THE TEST

Read through the exam, paying particular attention to the instructions, the number of questions compared to the amount of time you have, whether or not there are "all of these" or "none of these" answer choices, and getting an overall impression of the test's difficulty in relation to your preparation. If there are questions you know will take some time, you may wish to save those for after you have answered the easier questions. This makes sure you answer what you can before time runs out. Skipping answer spaces can throw you off, though, so be sure to put the answers you answer out-of-turn in the right spaces!

READ THE QUESTION!

We all have a tendency to fill in the blanks. During exams, it is common for test-takers to read the first half of the question, and then assume what the end of the question says. We do this because, when we studied the material, the phrasing of the material was similar. Read through each question completely, as if it was someone else reading it to you. Pay particular attention to words that change the way the question reads. For example:

Which of the following should not be done while treating a heat-related injury?
A. Provide Shade B. Lay Patient Down C. Elevate Feet D. Give Cold Water E. None

Compare that question to this one:

Which of the following should be done while treating a heat-related injury?
A. Provide Shade B. Lay Patient Down C. Elevate Feet D. Give Small Amounts of Water E. All

If the nature of the material in the book is written in a positive mode, many instructors will try to throw you off by restructuring the question in the negative. Read the questions carefully and you will avoid tricky wording.

READ ALL POSSIBLE RESPONSES

When you are well-studied, the right answer will jump out from the choices. One trick of writing tests, though, is to request the best answer. While the first choice you see that is correct might be a good one, there may be a better choice. These questions force you to evaluate the possibilities, exposing a degree of correctness.

ELIMINATE THE

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