Tips for MCQs

• In multiple choice questions, anticipate the correct answer before looking at the options.. • Relate response options to the question one at a time.  And be sure to read all of t[r]

I AN OBJECTIVE TEST CAN HAVE A

I AN OBJECTIVE TEST CAN HAVE A

VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TEST ITEMS LIKE:

VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TEST ITEMS LIKE:I AN OBJECTIVE TEST CAN HAVE A I AN OBJECTIVE TEST CAN HAVE A

VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TEST ITEMS LIKE:

VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TEST ITEMS LIKE:

1.

1. Free – responseFree – response items items

2.

2. True – falseTrue – false

3.

3. Fill in the blanksFill in the blanks 4.

4. Completion itemsCompletion items 5.

5. Match the itemsMatch the items 6.

6. Multiple – choice questions or MCQs, and Multiple – choice questions or MCQs, and 7.

II Strategies for objective tests taking.

A Preparation for taking objective tests – general suggestions.

1 Briefly look over the entire test to see what is ahead of you.

2 Read the instructions for the whole test and each subsection and make sure you

3 Note the number of items and figure out how much time you have to answer each one For example, if there are 50 items and your teacher limits the testing time to 50 minutes, then you obviously have only about a minute to answer each

question The point here is that you

3.1 Answer the easy items first to get the maximum number of points This relieves tension and gives you confidence, thus loosening up material from your mind as you proceed.

3.2. If a test is more than hour in length, give yourself or so minutes to clear your mind, stretch, and go to the restroom.

3.3 Check to see that your responses were marked in the correct places on the

3.4 Are there penalties for guessing? If not, answer every answer

3.5 If you think you know an item but are not sure, mark your response and come back to the question However, first impressions or

intuitions tend to be correct, so if you change your answer be sure you have a good reason to so; research indicates that in out of times your first choice was probably correct.

3.6 If the question seems intelligible, reword it or break it down into part.

3.8 Don't waste time reviewing answers of which you are confident are correct.

3.9 Beware of mandatory words such as

“never” or “must” or “always” The obvious answer might not be correct if there are exceptions to the statements.

3.10 Words such as “seldom”, “normally”, and generally” or ‘usually” allow

exceptions, however.

3.11 Use information from other test

items Often the answer to a question is

B Tips for types of objective tests taking.

1 True – False questions:

1.1. Watch for qualifiers or

mandatory words such as "always," never," or "must."  If they are

present, chances are the statement is "False," since few things are

• Example: (Comprehension Unit – English 12, years)

• Question b (page 102): American men always shake hands when they meet T / F

• The obvious answer here is false (F) And questions c, f, h in this unit have

1.2 If a question contains words such as "seldom," "normally," or "generally", ect where an exception would not alter the

answer, chances are the answer is "True".

• Example: (Consolidation Unit – English 10)

• Question (page 185): Their language is

somewhat different from the Queen’s English T / F

• Even if you were not sure of your

1.3.If a statement is more specific than most, chances are it is

"True."

• Example: (Unit – English 12, years)

• Question d (page 10): English is

spoken as the first language in many countries besides the

2 Multiple choice questions (MCQs) * General rules for MCQs

• In multiple choice questions, anticipate the correct answer before looking at the options

• Relate response options to the question one at a time.  And be sure to read all of the options!  Often people stop with the first option that looks right

• Balance options against each other

2.1 Cues in the options

2.1.1 Most General options:

• The correct option is often the most general, since the most general option includes the most information You

will often find a list of items that

• Example: (Unit – Reading skills, English 10)

• Question (page 19): How did he obtain military secrets?

A He passed the exams for the Civil Engineering University.

B He attended the University of Technology. C He quietly gathered bit by bit some thirty thousand pages of documents on weapons.

D None are correct.

• Even if you aren't sure of the correct answer,

you can see that the alternatives A, B, and D, all deal with specific facts and details about some

2.1.2 Length:

• The correct option is often the longest If you have noticed that most of the

correct answers have been the

shortest, then when you aren't sure, select the shortest If, on the other

hand, most of the correct answers have been the longest, select the longest

answer when you are unsure No

2.1.2 Length:

• For example: (Unit – Reading skills, English 10) • Question (page 19): How did he obtain military

secrets?

A He passed the exams for the Civil Engineering University.

B He attended the University of Technology. C He quietly gathered bit by bit some thirty thousand pages of documents on weapons.

D None are correct.

2.1.3 Middle Value:

• The correct option is usually of

middle value. If the options range in value - old to new, early to

2.1.3 Middle Value:

• Example: (Consolidation unit – English 10)

• Question (page 127): How much oxygen does the Amazon forest produce in each year?

A 40% B 14% C 44%

D None are correct

2.1.4 Two options Mean the Same:

• The correct option is probably not one of a pair of similar statements.

If two options mean the same thing, and there is only one correct

answer, eliminate both of them

2.1.4 Two options Mean the Same:

• Example: (Consolidation unit – English 10)

• Question (page 129): That foreigner

doesn’t have an entry visa He entered the country _.

A illogically B wrongly C incorrectly D illegally

• Since options B and C have similar

2.1.5 Two options are Opposite:

• The correct alternative is

probably one of a pair of direct opposites. If you notice that

two alternatives have opposite meanings, one of them is

2.1.5 Two options are Opposite:

• Example: (Consolidation unit – English 10)

• Questions (page 129): Whale hunting _ the whale species

A.cancels B kills

C endangers D maintains

•End of tips for

objective test taking!

•Thank you for