Making the correct choice

Multiple choice questions can be tough nuts to crack. Breathe easy, for here are ways in which the formidable task of choosing the right aswers can be made somewhat easy.

STRATEGIC CHOICE: Apply your mind and try to maximise your chances of getting the answers right.

A typical multiple choice question has two parts: the stem and a set of alternatives containing the key (the correct or "best" answer) and distracters (incorrect answers). Your job is to select the best alternative(s).

Multiple-choice questions are basically true/false questions arranged in groups and are usually not "tricky." Questions are designed to challenge and encourage you to think, not lead you to the wrong answer. The test taker is expected to select the best or most appropriate one among four or five given answer choices. The challenge is not to be distracted by the distracters.

Read the question carefully: Should you select one correct response or select several correct responses? Always check the context. All choices may be correct, but which fits the question best?

Example:

In a two-hour exam of multiple-choice questions, the best way to organise time is to:

A: Calculate the time available for each question, answer the easy ones, spend more time on tough ones till you run out of time, then quickly guess the answers to the rest.

B: Read the entire stem and every alternative, eliminating obviously incorrect answers.

C: Mark questions with negatives, superlatives, and qualifiers, then grammatically break down difficult questions.

D: Take a few minutes to relax by taking a few deep breaths and get focused.

Choices B, C and D are correct, but they have nothing to do with managing your time.

They do not fit the context of the question. The only choice that is correct and fits the context is A.

Three distinct methods have been identified for answering multiple choice questions

The answer-search method, using recognition memory: read the stem, derive the answer in your mind, and then find the answer within the alternatives.

Tension, however, can interfere with recognition. Being relaxed and confident helps recognition memory. Keep relaxed and "distant" from the items - wait for the correct answer to "jump" at you.

Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the alternatives - they won't trick you.

Read all the choices before choosing your answer. If a clearly correct answer doesn't emerge easily, move on to the next question.

Example: Divide x⁵ by x²

(a) x^2.5 (b) x³ (c) x⁷ (d) x^-3

You immediately realise that x³ should be the correct answer. When you look for x³ among the answer choices you find that it is choice (b) and indicate your choice as (b).

The elimination method involves ignoring the clearly incorrect alternatives and then making a selection from the remaining possibilities.

Example:

Which of the following numbers could be described as natural, rational, an integer and a whole number?

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2.33 (d) -3

A quick look tells us that: (a) 0 is not a rational number (c) 2.33 is not a natural number and is also not an integer (d) -3 is not a natural number

That leaves only answer choice (b) 1 which must be the correct answer. Verify that it is natural, rational, an integer and also a whole number, and indicate your choice as (b).

Use logic and common sense for elimination. Even if you are unfamiliar with the subject, it is possible to reason out the correct answer.

Example:

Prejudice and discrimination are:

(a) Harmful to society because they waste the country's economic and social resources.

(b) Helpful because they ensure against attack from within.

(c) Harmful because they create negative images in foreign countries.

(d) Helpful because they keep the majority pure and united against minorities.

Through logic and common sense, we can eliminate choices (b) and (d). Prejudice and discrimination are not positive, desirable, or helpful. We are left with two choices, (a) or (c). The attitude of other countries is not as serious as a waste of economic and social resources, eliminating (c). So the best answer choice is (a), which offers a stronger reason why prejudice and discrimination are harmful. Notice that it is also the longest answer and a positive one (actually a double negative)

Try to identify the approach that works best for you by analysing previous tests.

Use a combination of the answer-search and elimination methods within each group of questions. Apply the answer-search strategy first to all questions within a group of questions, and then apply the elimination method to the questions you skipped in the same group before going on to the next group of questions.

The answer - search method will be more successful in groups of "easy" questions than in relatively tougher groups of questions, and takes up comparatively less time. Apply these two methods to all groups of questions, including the ones you are "doubtful" about.

Use the answer-search method in the shortest time possible, and spend more time using the elimination method. Don't waste too much time with these methods on the "doubtful" list.

You are now left with the questions you could not answer so far using both methods. Use the final strategy now!

The method of guessing intelligently: This final strategy can be applied after the other methods have failed to lead you to the correct answer.

If there are four alternatives, the probability of guessing the right answer is one in four (25 per cent).

If you can eliminate one alternative, your chances will rise to one in three (33 per cent). You can eliminate two alternatives, your chances will rise to one in two (50 per cent). So if you must guess, do it, but from among the smallest number of alternatives as possible.

Never guess blindly, unless there is no negative marking - use strategies to make an educated guess.

Multiple-answer multiple-choice questions are those that ask you to select between possible combinations of responses, and the responses form a part of the stem itself.

A statement and several conclusions that can be drawn from it are given. You have to select the correct conclusion(s).

Example:

Statement: Few shops on this road have neon lights, but they all have signboards.

Conclusions:

(a). Some shops have either signboards or neon lights

(b). Some shops have both signboards and neon lights

(c). Some shops have no neon lights

(d). Some shops have no signboards

The correct conclusion(s) are: (You have to choose one of 1,2,3 or 4)

(1) a (2) a & c (3) b (4) b & c

Here, you are not selecting the best answer; you must select the choice that contains all the correct conclusions (4. b & c in this question).

The strategy to use with such questions is to treat each statement as a true/false question.

First try to prove that (a) is false. If you cannot prove it false, accept it as true and place a mark alongside (a). Continue this way with (b), (c) and (d) statements, and then mark off the appropriate choices.