If you’ve already written one or several multiple-choice exams in university, you know they're not easy. But are your multiple-choice test strategies based on myths and guesswork?
Let's review seven popular myths about multiple-choice exams and how you can adopt more effective strategies to solve multiple-choice questions.
Myth 1: I don’t need to study as much because the answer is in the options.
This myth immediately sets you up to approach multiple-choice questions by guessing. Multiple-choice questions may require you to work through a problem or analyze a process. You must study the same way as you would for other types of exams to work through the questions and select the correct answers.
Myth 2: C is most likely to be the right answer
Don't waste your time looking for patterns in the correct answers—there are none! The surest way to succeed in multiple-choice questions is to read the questions and fill out your bubble sheet carefully.
Myth 3: I’ll be able to identify the most correct answer once I see all the options.
Expecting the choices to reveal the correct answer is a sure way to get the answer wrong. Work through each question as if it were not a multiple choice. Hide the multiple choices while you think about the right answer, and then select the option that is closest to your answer.
Myth 4: Longer and more detailed answers are more likely to be correct than shorter answers.
More information doesn’t guarantee accuracy, so don’t be fooled by an option just because it is lengthy or detailed. Relying on this assumption leads to guessing without fully engaging with the question. Instead, treat multiple choice questions as a three-step process:
- Assess the question
- Work it out
- Evaluate the options.
Myth 5: Modifiers are there to trick me!
Modifiers and qualifiers test your understanding of a concept or theory and can appear in questions and options.
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Modifiers add specificity or context (e.g., “at the temperature of...”, “cold”, “quickly,” “does NOT apply”).
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Qualifiers indicate degree, probability, or frequency (e.g., “often,” “sometimes,” “barely”).
Pay close attention to these words. They can influence how you interpret and answer a question.
Myth 6: Go with your instinct.
Going with your first instinct is an unreliable strategy that promotes guessing in multiple-choice exams. It’s completely normal to second-guess your initial answer after considering the question more carefully.
Rely on what you know by using course concepts relevant to the question and working through them to select your answer.
Myth 7: Take an educated guess!
Taking an educated guess is the last resort when you run out of time or when you absolutely don’t know how to work through a question. Even in these cases, taking an educated guess requires working through the question using course concepts that you guess to be relevant to the question.
Multiple choice questions don’t have to feel so tricky! If you need help practicing these strategies, book a meeting with a Peer Success Coach.