Study Skills
Multiple Choice Tests & Exams
Mount Allison University
Challenges in Preparing for
Multiple Choice Tests & Exams
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Anxiety
Time-constraints
Volume of material covered
Misconceptions about the nature of
multiple choice exams
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Often our assumptions about MC tests
work against us
Multiple Choice Facts
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There is usually enough time to complete all the
items on the test
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Questions can be in-depth and require higher-order
thinking and application of knowledge
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Typically professors allocate 45 seconds to 1 minutes per
multiple choice item
Do not assume all MC items will involve superficial
knowledge
It is important to know what the question is asking
before answering
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Many students make errors because they mis-read the
question!
Multiple Choice Fictions
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Only knowledge of facts will be tested
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Professors are out to trick students
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It is rare for a professor to go out of his/her way to trick students,
although some questions are more difficult than others
Apparently “easy” items are “tricks”
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Questions can involve applying knowledge to new situations,
theoretical explanations, or understanding the concepts behind
phenomena
More often than not, they are just easy items
There will be an equal number of correct responses
from each response alternative, or there will be a
pattern of responses
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Professors really do not have the time to put “hidden codes” into
their tests and exams!
Studying for MC Tests
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In many ways, studying for a MC test is just
like studying for any other test
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Start by reading/reviewing all the assigned
chapters and your class notes
Begin studying well in advance of the test
Identify the professor’s goals…what has he/she
told you is important?
Study actively
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Take notes, summarize important points/theories, think
critically about the material, apply you knowledge and
test your self
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Studying with others can be very effective
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Helps you clarify weak topics
Helps you identify and fill in any gaps in your study
materials
Having to explain material to others reinforces
your knowledge
Helps reduce stress and anxiety
However, you must make sure you are
actually studying and not just socializing!
Thinking About the “Big
Picture”
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Every piece of information gathered must be
integrated into your existing knowledge
Pay attention to titles, headings, &
subheadings on the course outline, in lecture
notes, and in the textbook
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These devices were put there to help you organize
and understand the material
Actively sort information as you are gathering
it
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Ask yourself the following questions:
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What is this about and what is most
important?
What kind of information is this?
Look for:
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Key terms and concepts
Relationships
Arguments and evidence
Building a Strong Knowledge
Base
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Attend all classes, and reread notes after
each class, checking for completeness and
comprehension
Do assigned readings regularly, to avoid pretest reading backlog
Read each lecture’s material during the week
of the lecture, for maximum effect
Make study notes based on your readings
Predict what will be on the test
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Chapter summaries
Review sections
Margin prompts
Text boxes
Bold & italicized text
Instructor or course
emphasis
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Watch for:
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“rules”…true in all cases
except…
“firsts”…first proponent of
a theory
What information is
interesting? Contrary to
expectations?
Practice, Practice, Practice
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Practice what you will have to do in the test
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Plan how you will remember
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Make sure you test yourself using materials supplied by your
instructor, the textbook, or that you have generated yourself
Mnemonics
Diagrams or flash cards
Personal examples
Analogies to existing knowledge
Try to learn definitions and concepts in “two directions”
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Be able to recall the definition based on the concept name, but
also the concept name based on the definition
In the Weeks Leading Up to
the Test...
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Think about what works for you
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Study old exams or practice tests in the study
guide
Monitor your comprehension
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Use the study techniques that are effective for you
Make sure you really understand
Prepare and review sample items on your
own and with your group
Make plans for after the test
In the Days Leading Up to the
Test...
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Gather information
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Focus on the structure of the test
Assess your knowledge base and fill in
gaps
Use information
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Predict likely test items
Self-test: focus on retrieval
During the Test...
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Stay focused and stay relaxed
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Read the instructions very carefully
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Becoming overly anxious will interfere with test
performance
Make sure you are taking the test properly
Budget your time
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How many minutes per question or section?
Come back to questions you can not figure out the
answer to
Allocate more time to sections worth more marks
When Taking the Test…
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Read the question very carefully
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Make note of key words
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Many students end up answering a different
question because they are rushed and mis-read
the question
Underline key words such as “all”, “none”, or “not”
Read all the response alternatives
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Even if you think you know the answer, make sure
there isn’t a “better” answer listed as a later
alternative
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If you get confused by all the response
options…
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Cover up the response alternatives and read the
question stem. Try to predict what the answer is,
then check and see if that is one of the response
options.
If you are not sure what the answer is,
eliminate obviously wrong answers
As a last resort…guess
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But only guess if there is no penalty for incorrect
responses
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Make sure you have scheduled time to review
your answers
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Make sure your answers still sound correct
Make sure you answered all the questions
Respond to any questions you skipped
Do not be afraid to change your answer
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A study of 1,561 introductory psychology midterm
exams found that when students changed their
answers, they went from wrong to right 51% of the
time and right to wrong only 25% of the time
(Kruger, Wirtz, & Miller, 2005)
After the Test...
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Plan a short break after the test
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Make plans for returning to your regular study
schedule
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All work and no play...
Do not forget to reward yourself for achieving your goals
All too often there is a lull in academic activities immediately
following a test
Make sure you review your test once it has been
marked
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Is there a type of question you consistently answer incorrectly?
Should you be focusing on different information when studying?
Can your professor make any suggestions to improve your study
techniques?